Small Farms Making a Difference

Some common questions and answers:

Other questions may be answered by referring to the Terms and Conditions for Customers

If your question is still not answered please email your question to the market manager at jessandnatew@yahoo.com.

Here are some frequently asked questions:

And here are some answers:

How can I sell through this market?


To sell through this market you will need to create an account and email me to let me know you are interested (jessandnatew@yahoo.com). Please include your farm name in the body of the email. I will add your farm to our grower list and link your account to your farm so that you can edit your information page and upload pictures into your photo album.

Please download and read the Vendor’s Guide to the Cumberland Farmer’s Market . You will also need to sign a contract agreeing to the terms and conditions of the market.

We are currently looking for area growers. We are not planning to charge a set up fee for growers this year. However, we may need to do so in the future (incentive to sign up now).

Like at a traditional farmers’ market, you do get to set your own prices and list your items as you wish. Contact Jess Wilson at jessandnatew@yahoo.com if you want more information.

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When and Where do I pick up my order?


You can pick up your order at the Sewanee Community Center (behind the Sewanee Market on Ball Park Rd.)Tuesdays from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. If you order a delivery your order will be delivered to your home on Tuesday evening between 5 and 7.

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Are there membership fees?


As of 2008 we are not charging a membership fee. We instead charge a 7% virtual booth fee to cover our overhead expenses. This fee will be automatically added to your order total.

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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, breads, meat, 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?


Each Saturday evening at 5 p.m., 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 at 10:00 a.m. Orders can be placed here on our website or by responding directly to the e-mail. Ordering through this web site is Locally Grown’s preferred method as it is designed to reduce the amount of time it takes us to process orders as well as provide you with detailed information about our products.

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When do I pay?


You can pay for your order at pick up. We accept cash or checks made out to the Cumberland Farmer’s Market.

You may also pre-pay. Your balance will be drawn down each time you order and you will never be charged for items that you do not get. We ask that customers pre-pay by at least $100. You can do this with cash, check, or by paypal on the website. To pay by paypal you will need to go to the “your account” page on the website (once you are logged in) and press the “donate” button.

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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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Should I order even if something is sold out?


Growers are asked to estimate how many items they will have available each week (for vegetable growers this involves looking at the live plants and guessing what they will amount to once they are harvested). Sometimes these estimates are off from the actual amount that is available. If a vegetable is “sold out” but you would like to try your luck you may go ahead and order it anyway. Once you get to know your growers you may become aware of the ones that are better at estimating (for instance In Town Organics generally underestimates but Coyote Cove Farm is usually right on). Some numbers are not estimates. Meat, for instance, is usually in the freezer when it is listed on the website. As the growing season progresses I’m assuming that growers will get better at providing accurate estimates (I’m speaking for myself here)... then again, maybe not.

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What does the 7% virtual booth fee cover?


The market itself does not take any profit from sales. We do however collect enough money to cover overhead expenses. The current membership fee and soon to come 7% virtual booth fee cover these expenses. We are charged 3% of sales for the use of this great software. We donate and additional 3% of our sales to the community center for the use of thier building. The rest goes toward paper, ink, and checks.

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Will you take my egg cartons, bags, and other containers?


Yes. We will return egg cartons and containers (that are already used by our growers)to the farmers. We will also accept bags if we have room.

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What if I don't like something I got?


There have been occasions (rare ones) when customer were not satisfied with products that they received. If this happen please let us know. It is up to our growers, but most of our growers will be happy to refund your money. We welcome all feedback and negative feedback is especially important in ensuring high quality in the future.

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