FOODS Transition Updates

8/13/10 - New FOODS Version Due Saturday! FOODS will be receiving an upgrade in the early hours of Friday, August 13, 2010. Our programmer, Roy Guisinger, will be installing the latest version of the software with more enhancements on the user's side. Be prepared for some changes during the upcoming order cycle this week and if you have any questions, difficulties or comments, email buyer@lakeco-op.org, or call the Co-op at 707.993.4270.

New Members Welcomed! Our FOODS testing is moving along and we are ready for new member sign ups. We thank those that have wanted to become members for their patience while the testing continued with current members. Those wishing to become new members may now click on the "Shop" link above. Signing up as a new member is easy! If you have any questions, contact buyer@lakeco-op.org or call 707.993.4270.

5/25/2010 - Behind the scenes, the buying club committee, in conjunction with our local farmers, have been testing what is termed a facilitated online ordering and distribution system, or FOODS for short. This open source software system allows members to buy individual items directly from the producers and creates invoices, delivery route sheets, keeps track of payments and tracks producer inventory.

We are ready for Phase IV of the testing which will be launched for the month of July and will allow individual orders by members and incorporate a new, more flexible format for the CSA boxes, including ordering boxes for single weeks or multiple weeks in advance. Beginning July, members will be able to order on a 1-, 4-, 8-, 12-, 26- or 52- week interval, irrespective of the time of the month you place the order. For example, say you are a member returning from vacation the second week of the month. In our current system, you would have to wait until the following month to start your monthly subscription again. But, with the new FOODS system, you will be able to order boxes anytime during the month and your boxes will begin arriving at your drop point the order cycle following the receipt of your payment and will continue for the number of weeks purchased. You will then need to reorder boxes when your current subscription runs out. Members will also be able to order single boxes on a weekly basis to better accommodate those only wanting occasional boxes.

But, new and exciting is the addition that you will be able to order individual items from our local producers, including seasonal produce, bread, eggs and other locally produced products. We think this better meets the desires of our members and will be more manageable for our coordinators.
FOODS allows for both Pay Pal and check/cash payments. We will go to single pricing for boxes whether they are purchased through Pay Pal or by cash or check. For Phase IV testing, though, we will only be taking checks for CSA boxes from those who pay for their boxes in person at the Clearlake Drop Point. Orders will be placed by a coordinator and box delivery will begin the order cycle following receipt of payment. We will accept checks for individual orders from the Clearlake drop point, but must receive payment prior to your receiving the products.

In order to get to Phase IV by July, we will need to train and educate the membership on accessing FOODS, update membership information, and work out any bugs that arise in the process. You will receive the following in the upcoming weeks:

• Order cycle information. FOODS operates on an "order cycle" that includes the opening and closing of the cycle and the delivery.
• Member access information, including your member id and password information allowing access to FOODS
• Instructions for ordering on FOODS
  
• An email address and phone number for questions
• Other pertinent information as it arises
  

We're excited at the prospect of allowing more flexibility in your ordering and access to locally produced fruits, vegetables and other value-added products from our Lake County producers. We hope to expand the offerings available through FOODS in the coming months and we look forward to expanding the local production and consumption of Lake County grown.

As with all systems, we will be working out the bugs as we move forward together and appreciate members' patience, help and kindness. Additionally, as the international cooperative principles imply, what we are launching may be a model to help other communities build and strengthen their local food shed and economy. It's an exciting time for locavores all over the world! If you'd like to see a running version of FOODS, go to: http://www.oklahomafood.coop