Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long have you been operating?
Membership opened October 13th, 2007. We are proud to be 100+ members strong and growing.
We currently offer a weekly order and pickup window with a convenient downtown location. We will add additional pickup locations and biweekly order windows as our membership grows.

2. How much is the membership fee? What will this money be used for?
The membership investment is $35 for individuals, $50 for families, and $25 for individuals on a limited income. It is a one time payment to provide the capital necessary to begin this service. Renewal memberships will be a modest fee annually to support the co-op and are a fraction of the initial investment.

Membership investments are used to pay the expenses involved with starting and operating the co-op, including equipment, applicable licenses, operating expenses, and a reserve fund. As a 501c3 nonprofit, we strive to keep the costs of our members as low as possible, while supporting local growers with fair wages.

3. Can I order without becoming a member?
Certainly! We encourage families to try our food - once you do, we're sure you'll be hooked! Non-members are welcome to order by emailing or calling in your requests based on our weekly offerings list. We will do our best to accommodate your order, though please keep in mind that members are given priority when quantities are limited. You may also visit our pick up location outside of the order process to see the surplus food and pick some up to try - though not all items are available in surplus all the time, so if you are looking for a particular item, we encourage you to order. Non-member prices include a 15% surcharge above member prices.

4. What kind of prices can we expect?
Price information is at our membership page, and from the link on our home page. You can opt to view the price sheet without being a member - but keep in mind that nonmembers do receive a surcharge. We strive to provide a fair wage to the local growers producing your food, while keeping the costs competitive and accessible so that all families may experience the health and lifestyle benefits of nutritious organic foods on their tables.

5. How exactly does the ordering system work?
When you join, you receive a user ID and password. When the order opens, you go to our website and log in. This takes you to shopping pages. You can browse the pages and add items to your basket. You can add the amount you wish, and also a minimum and maximum amount. This facilitates our ability to order in cases and supports the co-ops sustainability. The minimum for each order is $20. Please contact us directly if you wish to place an order less than $20, to see if we can make an exception. There is a processing fee of $1.50 per order to support our order software and to compensate for fuel surcharges of producers.
Most members keep a form of payment on file and will be charged for their order when it is placed. You receive an invoice once your order is placed. We can also take payment by check, cash, money order, or credit, though there is a small transaction fee for debit and credit.

6. How do I join?
Click here and submit your payment online, or mail your payment to Florida School of Holistic Living, 604 N Thornton Ave, Orlando, FL 32803.

7. I have a big garden. Can I sell my excess produce through this network?
Absolutely. We provide resource and support for growers who wish to connect to customers or become producers. Contact us to begin the conversation about adding your produce to our list.

8. Do you need volunteers?
YES. Members of the co-op volunteer three times per year in the function of the co-op: picking up produce, sorting orders, pricing, promotion, contact, and other operations. In addition, we have opportunities for volunteers who wish to help support the community further, and can often arrange grocery credit. Invest in the cultivation of sustainable community by doing your part!

9. What kind of information will I know about these products?
We are developing five categories of food products which we carry.

(1 - FLO) Florida Certified Organic
(2 - FLN) Florida Naturally Grown
Substantially complies with organic standards, but does not have USDA certification. Many small farmers fall into this category. We encourage, though do not require, involvement with www.naturallygrown.org
(3 - FLS) Florida Standard.
No herbicides or pesticides, but the products may have had some commercial fertilizer involved in their production.
(4 - FLC) Florida Commercial.
Produced using conventional agribizness practices.
(5 - NCO) Non-local Certified Organic
Though we strive to offer all local produce, the fact is that Florida's climate cannot sustain the growth of certain produce, such as apples. We source these from Certified Organic growers and source them as geographically close as possible.

Each producer gives us an affidavit about the Florida origin and production practices of his or her products, including the exact location where they were grown or processed. We develop relationships with the growers and tour their farms to get to know the land and its caretakers. As our site grows, members will have the opportunity to see photos and read more about the individual growers we source from, where producers will tell the story of their family and farming operation.

10. Why did you start this co-op?
Our goal in starting this co-op is to connect our community with local growers, providing a means of income and support for these producers, while providing ecologically-friendly, locally-sourced food for members of our community. We invite all who join to share this news with others and encourage them to be part of this exciting new way of exploring the rich diversity and good tastes of Florida produced foods.

11. What is your legal structure?
We are a program of the Florida School of Holistic Living,
a 501c3 non-profit organization.

12. What else do I need to know?
See our Terms of Service and, upon membership registration, our customer handbook.

Tell a friend! Please feel free to copy these pages and send them to others who may be interested, either electronically or in hard copies.