How It Works
Weekly Cycle 
1. Sunday of Every Week
Farmers Post Their Bounty
Every Sunday our group of local farmers post which foods they will have available for the week's harvesting. Chow Locally then adds their food to our site for purchase that week.
2. Sunday — Wednesday (Midnight)
You Shop for Local Food
Starting Sunday of every week, we open up the site for all local shoppers to order from all local farmers. During check out, you pick which of the locations you'll visit to pick-up your order. All purchases are guaranteed to be grown locally and meet our strict principles.
3. Thursday — Friday
Farmers Harvest Their Food
Come Thursday, we close the shop and send the farmers the list of purchased food. The farmers will harvest just the right amount of food for the week and prepare it for delivery. On Friday, all the farmers deliver the exact amount of food to Chow Locally (no more waste!).
4. Saturday — Monday
You Pick-up Your Locally Grown Food From Us
Saturday through Monday, You come to your chosen location to pick-up your order from us! After that, the process starts all over again and you can start ordering your next batch the following Sunday.
It's just that easy!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why should I buy local?
We thought you'd never ask! Buying anything locally offers a number of great benefits, and buying your food from local sources brings even more! Supporting local businesses means that a higher percentage of the taxes and other fees your local government receives can be recycled into programs that stimulate the local economy, spurring more growth and diversity and creating new jobs! Buying your food locally means you get it fresher, less processed, and with more nutrients and a smaller environmental impact. As you can see, it’s quite mutually beneficial for the hard-earned dollars you spend to go back into your community!
What do you mean by local?
Thanks for asking! For our partners to sell on our site, the food they offer must be produced within 150 miles of your city and must not cross state lines. There are occasionally exceptions to this rule. For instance, we believe in supporting local and regional food systems, and sometimes it makes sense to offer foods produced within a foodshed that might comprise areas within two states. If there is an exception like this, it will appear on the farmer’s profile.
What happens if I miss the Saturday pick up?
We are truly bummed when you can’t pick up your order on your scheduled date and times! But, we know things come up, and no one likes to see food go to waste. So, we donate your items to a local shelter or food bank – just another measure to support the community!
Can I get a refund or credit if I miss the Saturday pickup?
Since our farmers harvest your veggies according to what you ordered, they can't be returned to the shelf, so to speak, as they've been plucked from the ground! It’s kind of like ordering take-out: if you never show up to get it, you don’t get a new sandwich the next day! Similarly, with some of our other food products, the vendors know that once it’s been purchased through our site, it’s as good as if they sold it from their market booth. For the farmers’ sake, we do not offer refunds, replacements, or exchanges unless the item is damaged or defective.
Why can’t you hold my food if I don’t get there on time?
Great question! There are a couple of reasons:
- Our farmers want you to have the freshest products available, and we cannot guarantee that freshness after the market closes.
- Our storage facilities are designed for short-term food storage only. Again, offering you the ultimate in fresh local food is a key part of the Chow Locally philosophy!
Why can’t I order and pick it up in two or more weeks?
Farm harvests are often different each week, and some food may not be available two weeks from now. Also, our partners want to give you the freshest local food available, so in most cases, your order was harvested or fulfilled less than 48 hours before your pick-up date!
Is there any way to have my order delivered to me?
We believe we have found the perfect balance of convenience for you, support for the local economy, reduction of the carbon footprint associated with food production today, and sustainability as an earth-conscious company. We currently work with local farmers’ markets and businesses as pick-up sites. To remain in line with these values, we do not offer delivery at this time, but we may consider it in the future if it allows us to continue achieving these goals in a responsible way.
Is there a pick up location closer to my house?
Great question! We're a new company, but we're expanding all the time time. Currently, we offer pick-up at four different locations on two different days. However, with our Chow Share program, you can help us establish new drop-off locations! Go here to learn more. Or, if you know of a farmers’ market or business near you that would be an ideal place to establish our next pick-up location, including those outside of Arizona, we’d love to hear about it!
What if I want to change or cancel my order?
We send our partners a list of their orders once a week so they have time to harvest the right amount for you. Therefore, you must contact us at least 48 hours before your pick-up date to change or cancel your order. Please email support@chowlocally.com so we can assist you with this.
Can I pay for my order at the booth on pick up day?
Glad you asked! Since your order isn’t fulfilled until you complete the checkout process, and since our farmers harvest based directly on our customers’ demand, we only offer online payment for your items at this time.
Can I use EBT (food stamps), WIC/USDA, or other food programs to pay for my order?
Unfortunately, we are not set up to accept these forms of payment at this time. However, we plan to support these payment methods soon.
What if I get home and find that my item is damaged or defective?
No problem! We carefully inspect all items before packing and will never intentionally send you off with an item that has a defect that would impact its quality or safety. However, if you do find that an item you have received is not to your satisfaction, please save the item and contact us as soon as you discover the problem so we may quickly refund, replace (if possible), or credit you for the price of the item. There are a few instances in which we will be unable to provide you a refund, replacement, or credit, so we encourage you to read our full policy, which can be accessed here.
How do you manage my personal information?
We completely understand your concern here! Rest assured, we value your privacy as well. Therefore, we will only retain the minimum information necessary to process your order and will never sell it to a third party. Our full Privacy Policy can be accessed here.