So how does goMarket work?
For customers, Locally Grown makes supporting local producers a lot easier than other markets. By shopping online, you can shop from many farms (and gardens!) all at once. After that, wait a couple days while the farmers get your order ready. Then when the set time arrives (usually during the evening commute), pick up your order like a custom CSA basket.
For producers, Locally Grown makes sales to retail (e.g. families) and wholesale (e.g. restaurants) users really easy. Update how much inventory you have in the field every week and set the prices you deserve. The market software has a “first pick” of sales to retail customers who pay a little more, and gives you the option of lowering the price for wholesale customers during the “second pick”. If you don’t sell everything, you can leave it in the field and find another sales outlet.
The market has been a huge boon to restauranteurs in Athens, GA and we’re sure it will benefit Durham’s food scene as well. Wholesale accounts for restaurants allow discounts on bulk orders of goods from local farms, (although residential customers paying full price get first “pick” when placing orders). It also helps you plan out procurement for the week, while incorporating a broad diversity of farmers.
Here are some frequently asked questions:
- Are you a CSA?
- Will I have to buy vegetables I don't want?
- How do I order?
- When do I pay?
- Why Support Locally Grown?
- How can I sell through this market?
- What day is the drop-off/pick-up?
- How does the market support itself?
- Who came up with this idea?
- Do I need a credit card to order?
And here are some answers:
Are you a CSA?
goMarket is like a CSA (community supported agriculture) in that we have a box ready and waiting for you when you come pick up from The Bar Durham on Tuesday afternoon. Like a CSA or any other direct, traditional farmers market, purchases through goMarket directly support these farmers. The difference is that more than one farm contributes to your box. You decide exactly who and what to buy. This means the farmers can focus on doing a few crops really well, which can have advantages over a CSA where the farmer often has to keep up with dozens of crop species and hundreds of pests.
Will I have to buy vegetables I don't want?
Unlike some produce delivery services and CSAs where everyone gets the same box of stuff (and you don’t know what you’re getting until you get it), with Locally Grown you get to order what you want, in the quantities that you want, from the farms that you want. The weekly email lists the produce, milled products, fresh flowers, and artisan goods available that week, and you can browse the items on this website before you place your order.
How do I order?
Each Sunday evening, a list of available products is sent to all of our registered customers by e-mail. Customers must place their order for the week no later than Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. Orders can be placed here on our website. Ordering through this web site is our preferred method as it is designed to reduce the amount of time it takes us to process orders as well as provide you with detailed information about our products.
When do I pay?
Enter your credit card info to order, but it won’t be charged until you pick up your order on Tuesday. Orders that are not cancelled by 6AM on Tuesday morning cannot be refunded. Many of our farmers with have already picked and packed your order by this point.
Fear not! We will work with you to hold on to your order.
Why Support Locally Grown?
Enhance your local economy: By purchasing produce and other items from local growers you are providing stability to your local economy through the support of local businesses.
Save natural resources: Buying locally makes you an invaluable link in the process of saving resources such as fossil fuels and packaging materials. Also, we are right here in your community so the expense of transportation and delivery is kept to a minimum.
Provide learning opportunities: Locally Grown supporters provide member growers the means to help educate our community about the importance of sustainable agriculture.
Supporting a way of life: The number of small farms in the United States has decreased dramatically in the last decade. Please help us preserve an honest and worthy means of making a living.
We believe that small, diverse, family-owned farms contribute to society’s overall health.
How can I sell through this market?
If you’ve already created a customer account here, simply go to Our Growers and click on ‘Join this Market’. This will add you to our system and our market managers will contact you with the next step. We do charge a 15% commission of your overall sales so that we can stay in business helping farmers and consumers work together to build a better world. Like at a traditional farmers’ market, you do get to set your own prices and list your items as you wish. Contact eric.c.bowen||at||gmail if you want more information.
What day is the drop-off/pick-up?
Customers pick up during the Thursday evening commute from 4:30-6:30 at Locopops in West Durham.
How does the market support itself?
goMarketNC, LLC is supported by a 15% commission and a $30/year membership fee. The 15% commission includes all credit card processing, software and overhead for the market, including support for the family of the founder and manager, Eric Bowen.
Who came up with this idea?
goMarket was founded by Eric Bowen a North Carolinian since age 2. To learn more about him, check out his profile on the goMarket homepage.
The Locally Grown software and “online farmers’ market” concept was developed in Athens, where the lead developer of Locally Grown, Eric Wagoner, runs Boanns’ Banks Farm.
Do I need a credit card to order?
Yes, you need a credit card to place an order. We don’t charge your card until you pick up your order, at which time you can pay with cash, check or the card you have on file.
We plan to accept EBT/SNAP soon.
