Are there membership fees?

To help us with our overhead costs and administration of our food program, as well as other ALFN programs, we ask that you join the Network to participate in the Local Food Club. You are welcome to try us for two orders before officially becoming members. The membership fees are $5/month, payable $15 for 3 months, $30 for one-half year, or $60 for an annual membership.

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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 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.

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How do I order?

On Friday evening, an email is sent to all of our registered customers. Customers must place their order for the week no later than Monday, 12:00pm CT. Orders can be placed here on our website. To order simply add the items you want to your basket and then checkout. Be sure to go through the entire checkout process to place your order. You will receive an email confirming what you have ordered.

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When do I pay?

We accept cash or checks when you pick up your order. Because we may have to adjust your total then (to account for unnanounced items you decide to purchase or items that were unexpectedly unavailable), we do not accept advance payment on the website.

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When and Where do I pick up my order?

From 4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, members can pick-up their produce at Christ Episcopal Church, located at 6th and Scott Street in downtown Little Rock

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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.

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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 market managers will be notified of your application.

Then complete the application form, found here, and email it ARLocalFoodNetwork@gmail.com or mail it to 509 Scott St., Little Rock AR 72201.

We request that all participating growers donate 10% of sales to the Arkansas Local Food Network. Like at a traditional farmers’ market, you do get to set your own prices and list your items as you wish. Call (501)291-2769 for more information

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Are the products sold through the ALFN Local Food Club organic?

Some are, some aren’t. The ALFN Local Food Club is essentially that – a LOCAL food club. Many, but not all, of our growers grow naturally and do not use chemicals. As a responsible consumer we encourage you to get to know your local farmers and learn about how their products are grown and raised. We offer our growers an opportunity to discuss their growing practices on their description page. Please visit the pages or contact the farmers for more information. Questions may also be sent to ALFN – ARLocalFoodNetwork@gmail.com or (501)291-2769.

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What if I get a product that isn't fresh or doesn't match the product description?

It’s important that we receive feedback from you ASAP if you get an item that isn’t fresh or doesn’t match the product description. We will forward your feedback to the farmer. In most instances we can credit your account for the unsatisfactory purchase/s.

We also ask that you let us know if there are any errors in your order. We handle a lot of items each week, and sometime do make mistakes. Please let us know if you find that you’re missing items or have extra items when you get home from pick up.

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Are all of the products sold through the Local Food Club locally grown?

Arkansas Local Food Network supports not only local farmers, but also small cottage industries – such as soap and other body care products, candles, tea blends, milled products, and baked goods.

Purchasing these products from local rather than national and international sources helps to move our local economy in a more sustainable direction.

On average, American farmers receive less than twenty cents per dollar for their products. The majority of food dollars go to middlemen, such as food brokers, distributors, and retailers. By comparison, when locally produced food is purchased, a much higher return per dollar goes to the farmer. In the case of the Local Food Club, the farmer receives 90% of each dollar spent. In addition, money spent in the local community gets spent an average of seven more times inside the community before it’s finally spent outside. So, buying locally grown produce not only supports local farmers, but also supports the entire local economy. The same story is true for other locally produced items. Building the local economy is an essential step to a sustainable future.

As such, the local food club helps our community become more sustainable by building the local economy and channeling member support to local farms and cottage industries. The program links together local producers and consumers and makes participating farms and businesses more viable operations by expanding opportunities to market goods. Our program encourages new and fledgling farmers and entrepreneurs by offering a low-risk environment for start-up and development. The program offers a local alternative to items that might otherwise be obtained from non-local sources.

The mission of the Arkansas Local Food Network (ALFN) is to develop sustainable community through education, innovation, and collaboration. We are dedicated to a healthy environmental, economic and social future for our community and world. We believe in sustainable development as a creative process that balances human economic and social needs with the requirements of the natural world upon which all life depends. We advance our mission via community collaborations that educate and serve human needs in sustainable ways.

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