Who are we?
Aiken Locally Grown is a network of farmers and artisans in the Aiken South Carolina area.
We understand that consumers are becoming far more educated on the detriments of large agribusiness. Their preference for the superior quality and taste of local food, their desire to support local agriculture, their concern over food-safety, and knowing where one’s food comes from is often hindered by an inability to easily access local food options.
Aiken Locally Grown service will integrate into consumers’ busy schedules allowing them to both order and receive local food at drop off points or their home, or workplace. Consumers will have access to local farmers and food producers, including descriptions of their growing and production methods, from a friendly online interface. They can browse by item or vendor and will receive a weekly delivery of fresh local food.
How it works:
Farmers and food vendors from the Aiken Locally Grown market post their goods to the online market on a weekly basis. Participating buyers then browse the site, learn about the farmers, food vendors, and their products and place weekly orders for local food, selecting their options by item or producer.
The Aiken Locally Grown team meets the vendors at the market, collects the bulk orders and packages them into individual boxes for pick up or delivery to our customers.
90% of the money goes to the farmers.
10% goes to community events and market overhead.
Our Mission:
Our mission is to extend existing markets for local farms, extend consumer access to local food, and facilitate the relationship between producer, consumer and the food community.
Why Support Locally Grown?
It enhances the local economy: By purchasing produce and other items from local growers you are providing stability to your local economy through the support of local businesses.
It saves natural resources: Buying locally makes you an invaluable link in the process of saving resources such as fossil fuels and packaging materials. Also, we are right here in your community so the expense of transportation and delivery is kept to a minimum.
It provides learning opportunities: Locally Grown supporters provide member growers the means to help educate our community about the importance of sustainable agriculture.
It supports a valuable way of life: The number of small farms in the United States has decreased dramatically in the last decade. Please help us preserve an honest and worthy means of making a living. We believe that small, diverse, family-owned farms contribute to society’s overall health.
Placing Orders
Every Friday at 12noon, a list of available products is sent by e-mail to everyone with an Aiken Locally Grown On-Line Market account. Customers may place their order for the week at any time between Friday 12noon and Monday at 8pm. Orders are placed via this website through the ‘The Market’ tab. Be sure to look for your confirmation receipt, making sure that your order was received.
Farmers and growers receive their “harvest reports” by email each week, in time to deliver to our market on Wednesday afternoons.
Picking up/Delivery of Orders
Orders will be filled on Wednesday afternoons. You can pick up your order at Sugar Bears Gardens located at 1450 Richland Ave, East. Aiken SC 29801. Their phone number is 803.624.7981. Pick up times are from 3:00pm – 6:00pm. If you are running late or not going to be able to make it, please call 803-439-7365 and let us know. Your farmers harvest your order for you, therefore, ALL ORDERS MUST BE PAID FOR even if you are not able to pick it up.
We do have a delivery option available. It is an additional $5.00 per week and covers a 10 mile radius from Richland/Laurens in Aiken. Deliveries will be Wednesday afternoons. You can leave us a check for your order total at your drop off point. You must supply us with two (2) coolers that will fit your orders. We will rotate coolers with you on a weekly basis
Become One of Our Growers
Aiken Locally Grown is committed to the idea that a community is healthiest when it feeds itself.
Rather than relying on highly-processed, corn-based boxed foods or veggies shipped from overseas, we are dedicated to supporting our neighboring farmers and growers.
We also encourage local, backyard gardeners to sell their surplus of veggies and fruits through our market. If you follow sustainable, all-natural practices in your home garden, please consider joining us! Click here for an application.