Where can we get locally produced foods?

[Chris Baggott]

Please don't say Farmers Markets :-) I'm wondering if there are any online sources for ordering local foods for delivery?

Thanks

[Scott Semester]

I don't have any experience with them myself, but I have several friends who have been pleased with Farm Fresh Delivery. FFD also donated over 5 tons of produce and dry goods to local food banks, too. Which is good. :)

A quick Google search yielded this page, which lists a lot of community-supported agriculture (CSA) outfits around central Indiana.

[Chris Baggott]

Thanks Scott!

[Nicki Laycoax]

I'm excited to see the responses to this! :)

[Chris Baggott]

Farm Fresh Delivery seems like a great option, but they need a lot of web help. Anyone want to donate their talents to help them upgrade.

I can see something similar to ning where each farmer can update their own inventory and you can place an order for lots of farmers directly though Farm Fresh

[Nicki Laycoax]

I think it sounds like a great idea, however, I wonder if there are there enough farmers that are technically savvy enough to know how to update their own inventory? The farmers that I've met in my time haven't been the biggest techie's... I'd be happy to see your forecasts for this business, and be directly involved with the recruiting of farmers, as well as the maintenance of the (Ning) site... Keep me posted!

[Erin Edds]

Wow, I find that statement very short sighted. I've talked to so many people who think farmer's markets are still a bunch of old guys backing their pickup trucks into fields to sell their wares. In truth, successful local farmers, more often than not, are very savvy business people that have to stay on top of current trends in order to stay competitive and relavant. There are a ton of reasons why having the local producer take responsibility for their own inventory on sites like FFD, none of which I'll go into. Their site has come a long way since October, and I encourage everyone to check it out!

[Nicki Laycoax]

Erin,

Thanks for your response. I am from a small town that is comprised of mainly farmers. The farmers range from teenagers all the way up to 80's. My experience; none are technologically savvy.

Outside of my community may be different, but I was speaking from my experience.

[Nicki Laycoax]

Mike,

That looks really nice! Congrats to you! I wish you the best. Keep us posted on how you guys are doing!

[Jodi Rose]

Mike - Kudos to your website...very easy to navigate and find information quickly. The concept of collaborating with local farmers to generate your products is great, too. On first glace, it seemed that most of the products are being shipped in from CA, and some from outside US. I'm sure that's seasonal? But, for some "purists", that will be a difficult sell...those who support local farms will want to avoid the environmental impact of shipping across state lines. I have heard through the grapevine that many farmers are building greenhouses/tents so that they can produce things locally even out-of-season. Have you looked into partnering with these businesses? I think the more local you can get, the more of a following you will get. Best of luck to you and congratulations on working on such an important issue!!

[Erin Edds]

Hey Mike,
I'd still be interested in adding Country Mouse City Mouse products to your customers grocery options.
Shoot me an email [e-mail] so I can send you a wholesale list.
Thanks!

[Patricia C. Coleman]

Hello Mike,

I'm glad to have found this! Please consider sending me an "article" or some writeup about your family business for use on the Local Food Website's Food News at http://www.greendove.net/foodnews.htm and its sister site the Indiana Holistic Health Network - http://www.indianaholistichealth.net

[Renee Wilmeth]

Chris, unironically, there are a ton of blogs that cover this topic including Going Local. She lists the Indianapolis-area CSAs (including Farm Fresh, but they're not the only one) as well as sources for local products. You might check Christine Barbour and Scott Hutcheson's book Home Grown Indiana for a comprehensive statewide directory of local producers, and, if you haven't already made good friends with Chris Eley at Goose, the Market, you should. He's one of the best sources for local meats and produce in town.