Limburg Neighborhoods unite farmer and consumer

An average grocery bag at the supermarket is filled with thousands of miles of transportation. Products are shipped in from all over the world, while local farmers and artisan producers make excellent local products. Boeren & Buren offers an alternative where local producers and consumers can find each other more easily. Thanks to this platform, the sixth Buurderij recently opened in Limburg.

Short Chain

The concept works as follows: Consumers can order their groceries online through Farmers & Neighbors from various regional farmers and artisan producers. Every week there is a fixed time when the farmers bring the orders to the Neighborhood Store and the consumer picks up the groceries. The Neighborhood Yard is any indoor, central location with ample space for this farmer's market. It is not only a place of exchange, but also the location where the farmer and customer come into direct contact again.

What products are offered each week is up to the farmer. The offer can always be adjusted, depending on the current situation on the farm. The ordered products that are brought to the Buurderij travel on average only sixteen kilometers. Moreover, no stocks are left behind, because only what has been ordered is delivered.

Honest price

The Neighborhood Farm is run by a local initiator. For this function as a spider in the web, this person receives 10 percent of the sales price. The Farmers & Neighbors platform also receives 10 percent for technical and commercial support. The remaining 80 percent is for the farmer or producer of the product, who incidentally determines the price.

Network

On the day of the meeting, often in the evening, the Neighbors and the Farmers get together. This is how they get to know each other and creates a space for sharing more than produce. The Neighborhood Farm can be the scene of festive events or workshops and is an ideal place for the farmer to showcase himself and his business.

Expansion in Limburg

In Limburg, thanks to the recent opening in Susteren, there are now six Buurderijen. Besides Susteren, there are branches in Sittard, Heerlen, Cadier en Keer and two in Maastricht. They offer products from, for example, Boerderijwinkel Fromberg, Zwamburg, Hemelse Soep, Trout Nursery Krijtland, Bakkerij Brokel, haKOEna and fruit and vegetable company Tonanzi.

Any of you want to sell your products at a Neighborhood Farm? On the Farmers & Neighbors website you can read all about how to join as a vendor.

Source: Dagblad de Limburger,Farmers & Neighbors