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For local producers, farmers, CSAs, food coops, markets and communities
Open Food Network is a community-owned software platform that is built for selling food. It can be either a shopfront for individual enterprises or a community hub of farmers and other local producers working together. OFN is operating in 9 countries, with 1000’s of local producers using it to reach markets to sell their products and support their local food economies in these difficult times.
View the Open Food Network Ireland webinar from the 29th of July, 2020.
A Platform For Producers
Proprietary digital market models have a fixed cost, registration requirements that can exclude smaller producers and overall control of how producers can sell through hubs. With OFN, producers have more choice and independence – they can list their profile at no cost, they can set up their own shop front to sell their produce or they can sell their produce through a hub. Cost plans work on a tiered system that depends on the scale and needs of the business. Plans can be adjusted as the enterprise develops.
“Platforms like the Open Food Network were a digital game changer for local food economies before the pandemic hit. With physical distancing measures likely to be with us for the long term OFN is an essential lifeline for small producers to maintain and grow markets.”
Open Source and Not-for-Profit for Stronger Local Economies
What’s just as important as the functionality of the software are the values that underpin it. If you’re trying to build a new food system – as a farmer, farmers’ market, food co-op or food hub – then why would you choose software that isn’t also contributing to a fairer food system? By working collectively rather than competitively, we share the costs of developing new models that serve all our needs and we ensure that the platform is more resilient than many other proprietary models.
Solidarity Cooperative
Solidarity co-ops are made up of a number of different groups of stakeholders with a range of perspectives and needs. With OFN Ireland, the interests of local producers, farmers, CSAs, food coops, markets and communities will all be represented. This platform is an exciting opportunity to explore a new way of cooperating that invites representation from a diverse group of stakeholders who share a common interest in food security.
What OFN Ireland Offers
- A way to respond to the Pandemic
- A range of shopfront types
- Detailed reporting and downloads
- A means to collaborate with other enterprises
- Integration with accounting packages
- Facilities for recurring subscriptions like box schemes
Requirements
- Internet connection
- Spreadsheet of products & pricing
- Stripe account
Cost
- Free Profile: Registering a profile to sell produce through other OFN shopfronts is free.
- Basic Plan: €1/month min donation up to €500 monthly trade.
- Starter Plan: 2% of sales up to €3500/month, no minimum payment so no risk at the start.
- Scaled costing starts after turnover of €3500/month – contact OFN Ireland for more details.
- Option of Cooperative membership is under development (member perks/discounts tbc)
