Host a pickup spot

Local growers have fresh food. Neighbors want it. The missing piece is one easy place and time to meet. A pickup spot is that place: a garden, church hall, shop, driveway or yard that opens for one or two hours a week. Each grower sells their own produce there. Neighbors reserve ahead and collect in one stop.

• Offers a space and one weekly window, for example Saturdays 9 to 11.
• Welcomes two or three growers who sell what they grow.
• Keeps the space safe and tidy during the window.
• Checks with the city and county first. The questions are below.

• Sells only food they grow or raise themselves.
• Holds any permits their food needs. Meat, dairy and prepared food have extra rules.
• Posts what they have each week and confirms reservations.
• Shows up in the window and takes payment directly at pickup.

• A free listing on the map and directory, so neighbors can find the spot.
• A weekly harvest page where growers post and neighbors reserve.
• Neighbor reviews of growers.
• A count of how many neighbors nearby signed up.

Read the step-by-step guide

• Insurance, permits or legal advice.
• Payment handling. Growers are paid at pickup.
• Any guarantee of customers or earnings.

Hosts and growers agree this between themselves, in writing: a free weekly box, a small flat hosting fee, or nothing. We are still checking the rules on paying hosts, so keep it simple and agree it directly.

Ask your county environmental health office, in writing:

1. If a host only provides space and each grower sells their own whole, uncut produce there, does the host need a permit? Do the growers?
2. Does a weekly neighborhood pickup spot count as a market, and does the city also need to approve it?

Also ask your city whether it needs a permit or has rules for a weekly gathering at your address, and ask your insurance agent whether your policy covers it.

1. Pick the space, the day and a one- or two-hour window.
2. Ask the questions above and keep the answers.
3. List your spot: tap Host a pickup point on the directory page.
4. Invite two or three growers to post their weekly harvest.
5. Tell neighbors. Share the link and the day.