Here are some frequently asked questions:
- Are there membership fees?
- Will I have to buy vegetables I don't want?
- How do I order?
- When do I pay?
- When and Where do I pick up my order?
- Why Support Locally Grown?
- How can I sell through this market?
- Oh NO! I forgot to pick up my order! Now what?
And here are some answers:
Are there membership fees?
Yes, there is a membership fee of $45 per household in order to establish an account with the ordering system. This fee will be to addition to whatever level membership you’ve choosen, and will be payable in the beginning of the season.
Will I have to buy vegetables I don't want?
Unlike some co-ops, buying clubs, or CSAs where everyone gets the same box of produce each week (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. Now you don’t have to worry about what to do when you go away for vacation, or if you are having company and may need extra. Do you dislike peppers, but really love tomatoes? No problem…order what you really love. The weekly email lists the produce, 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 Saturday afternoon, 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 Monday morning at 10:00. Orders can be placed here on our website. Ordering through this web site is a great method as it is designed to reduce the amount of time it takes us to process orders as well as provide you with the most detailed information about our products.
When do I pay?
You make an initial deposit in the beginning of the season (by check or cash only) to activate your Account.
Your account will be charged for the amount you order in any given week at the time of the order. Due to weather or other harvest situations, the amount you ordered online may not be exactly the same as the order you receive. Adjustments will be made to your account after the final pick-up on Wednesday.
If you have used up your debit account during the season, you may choose to make an additional deposit into your account at any time. Simply contact Mary and send in the additional check, and your account will be credited accordinly.
When and Where do I pick up my order?
From 11:00 am until 8:00 pm on Wednesdays, customers can pick-up their produce at Giardini Gardens 2411 Hwy 108E, Columbus, NC.
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 one-time-only set-up fee (which we can deduct from your sales) as well as a small percentage of your overall sales. Like at a traditional farmers’ market, you do get to set your own prices and list your items as you wish. Contact Mary Lyth at 828.817.3727 if you want more information.
Oh NO! I forgot to pick up my order! Now what?
Well, we are very sorry about that. We try our best to have a long range of hours that we are available for the pick up. But, as you know, fresh produce doesn’t keep fresh for long. And we have already paid the farmer for the goods, taken time to process your order & pack your order so it is ready for you at pick-up. Therefore, if you have not notified us during the day of any problem you may have in picking your items up that day…they will be donated and your account will still be debited for the amount that was ordered and packed. You can call Mary at 817-3727 if you are going to have a problem picking up your order during the regularly scheduled pick-up times.