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A Map of our Present Member-Producers

We, the Lehigh Valley Food Cooperative, are looking for local producers interested in making local food more available in the area.  One of the obstacles we've noticed in supplying local food to the area is the disbursed and ephemeral nature of the present distribution systems (growers' markets and scattered farms).  Another obstacle is that too often consumers and producers are pitted against one another; the consumer wanting a cheap price and the producer needing a higher price.  We believe that this divide can be bridged by working together to create a more usable distribution system committed to providing local food.  It has already been done by others.   In Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Food Co-op has been running successfully for 15 years, servicing virtually the entire state.  Following in their footsteps, we are beginning a year-round Virtual Farmers' Market.

 At this Virtual Market consumers have 24-hour access to shop from Friday through Tuesday.  Each producer has their own webspace, allowing them to set their own prices and explain who they are and what they grow.  Customers can search for products in numerous ways, including by category, producer, certified organic, etc.  On Tuesday night orders close, allowing producers to print out all their orders on Wednesday Morning.  Producers deliver orders on Thursday to a drop-off site in Macungie.  These orders are sorted and spread throughout the LehighValley to homes and drop-off sites where customers can pick up their orders.  We supplement local foods with bulk food items as well.

 The operation is collectively owned by the consumers and the producers.  The Co-op does not seek to make a profit by distributing food, but rather, aims to limit the costs of distribution.  The producers and consumers share in the cost of delivery by providing a mark-up on items sold (16% from the consumer and 10% from the producer).  This mark-up does not go into the hands of a privately-held business, but is transparent for all members to see and critique.

 The membership fee for producers is $125, plus $25 per year for every following year. (The membership fee for consumers is $100, plus $25 per year for every following year).  We are also interested in making arrangements for CSAs.  All this money goes into the start-up costs for beginning the operation.  At present, this operation is run entirely by unpaid volunteers.

If you would like to know more about participating, please contact membership@lvfood.coop or call 610-965-6198