Photo credit: Sarah Rice and Ruth Braden
It’s the New Year and most of us are looking for a fresh start. Do your resolutions include eating better and living healthier? Have you ever wanted all the bounty of a farmer’s market and never had the time to go? It turns out that 20 percent of the population would shop at the farmers market if it were more convenient, according to market research. That’s where Farmigo, an organizer and deliverer of farm-to-consumer produce, and HUB member company, comes in.
Founded in 2009, Farmigo began as an online software solution to help farms manage their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, allowing people to receive weekly boxes of produce directly from farmers. It has since evolved into an online marketplace that eliminates the hassle of buying fresh-from-harvest food. “Only 1% of the population participates in CSAs, and that one-to-one relationship with the farm means you are limited to specifically what they grew that week,” he said. “Our mission was to make healthy food accessible to all households while also preserving the community feeling of farmer’s markets. We are about an economy of community instead of an economy of scale. We want the community members to rise up and be a part of the solution,” according to Farmigo CEO Benzi Ronen.
This recently added service now allows workplaces, school communities and other groups to order from several farms within a 100-mile radius that will deliver produce within 48 hours of harvest, as well as fresh meats. Also on the delivery truck are fish, baked goods, and coffee. Ronen said,”If we could bring that farmers’ (market) experience – you pick which farm you want to buy from, what you want each week, you pay weekly – if we could bring that experience to you in a convenient way, that opens up the market.” Having raised $8 million from capital and finance firms to get the delivery service and online marketplace started, Farmigo means to do business. They’ve already signed up 20 farmers on the West and East coasts and their delivery service is up and running in San Francisco and Brooklyn.
In the photo, from left to right: Colin Frolich, Emily Romanelli, Nate Jordan
What does that mean for the HUB? Farmigo HUBber Colin Frolich wants to make the HUB a delivery location, and an idea incubator for use of this service. “ …creativity and entrepreneurship are welcome and we are seeing that companies are starting to innovate around this (food program). Many are integrating it into their health and wellness programs, using Farmigo credits as rewards for achieving milestones, and hold cooking competitions or recipe sharing events.” Are you feeling inspired, yet?
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Ruth Braden is a HUB storyteller. Follow her at @ruthbraden