How Grub Trade Works

 Grub Trade is a very simple concept.

General Q&A

"Can I use Grub Trade in my country?"

Yes, Grub Trade should work anywhere in the world. It should identify the correct currency for each producer's country. If you find any errors, please tell us.

"Can I be both a buyer and a seller?"

Yes, Grub Trade uses separate logins for buyers and producers. They are totally separate, so if you want to use the system to source produce and to sell as well (for example, if you run a veg box scheme), that's fine. You'll just register twice. (You can even use the same email and password if you like.)

"Is there any charge to use Grub Trade?"

No, there is no charge at all, because our mission is to support local food economies. You do have the option to donate to support the platform, if you are in a position to do so.

"How is payment handled?"

By agreement between the producer and the buyer. Producers can state their payment terms (which might be "cash on delivery", for example). Buyers and producers can negotiate terms before an order is finally placed.

"What do I need to get started?"

Whether you're a buyer or a seller, we just need to know your exact location and your general contact information, including a valid email. This is necessary for connecting buyers and sellers, whether the seller delivers or the buyer collects.

Selling

"Who can sell on Grub Trade?"

Anyone! You may have a small garden, a greenhouse, a commercial polytunnel, an allotment, a few fruit trees, or a beehive... Or you may be a professional farmer with fields of crops or herds of animals.

If you want to find local buyers, you can do it on Grub Trade!

"Can I choose who I sell to?"

Yes, there are several ways producers can control your orders:

• You can set a minimum order value, if you don't want to handle small quantities.
• You can set a maximum delivery range (or no range, if you want buyers always to collect from you).
• And you do not have to accept orders. If something isn't right, you can message the buyer, or just refuse the order.
• We also let producers rate buyers (and let buyers rate producers) so you can get an insight into how good a buyer is likely to be.

"Am I committed to accepting to orders placed with me?"

No. When someone places an order, you get to choose whether to accept it or to refuse it. You can also message the buyer directly from the order page.

Buying

"What kind of buyers are ideal?"

Grub Trade is primarily designed for buyers who are business or organisations who buy in some volume. We believe this will be better for producers, who can offer produce by the sack, bushel, or pallet rather than by the carrier bag. The system lets producers (sellers) set their preferred minimum order amount for this reason.

But this does not mean households can't use Grub Trade too! It could be really useful for greengrocers or other local organisations who would like to source the best local produce and then sell it to the consumer market, perhaps through a veg box scheme.

Ultimately, it's our users who will decide how Grub Trade develops 🙂

"Am I committed to accepting to orders I place?"

When you place an order, the producer may refuse it (for example, if they run out of stock or there's a problem with the produce).

If the producer confirms the order, then you have entered into an agreement with them. If you change your mind, or circumstances change, you should contact the producer as soon as possible and let them know. You can very easily send messages from the order page.

Remember that if producers feel that you have not been fair with them, they may give you a poor buyer rating, which may affect your choice of producers in future.