Now here’s a good idea.
Open Food Network – is an online community that puts food producers (of all types) in touch with wholesalers, food shops, and communities. Currently there are over 1,200 producers in the scheme and over 600 shops in the UK, and it is a growing global movement.
Local food online
It works collectively rather than competitively through online shops, buying groups, regional networks, food collectives and food hubs.
Individual communities can bring together producers and shoppers into an online ‘farmers’ market’ to create a resilient local food economy. The Network offers training and experiences exchanges so that all can develop within the system.
OFN UK is part of a global network of people building fairer, more resilient food systems. It facilitates group coaching and gatherings to enable food enterprises to learn from each other and exchange experience.
OFN also offers online training, blogs and resources in marketing, accounting and more, to help food enterprises develop the skills they need to succeed in this challenging sector.
This page outlines some of the options for producers to sell online direct to shoppers and buyers; for retailers to set up online shopfronts; for community groups to set up buying groups and food hubs; and for wholesalers to link to the growing Network.
Join the local food movement
In order to expand the local food system, we need to start by supporting the good food businesses that are already here.
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