DAYTON, Ohio — Dorothy Lane Market has launched a membership-based local food club that operates like a community supported agriculture program.
Shoppers who prepay for an eight- or 16-week membership to Honestly Local will receive weekly boxes containing local food and beverages beginning June 9.
Ron Williams, the program's creator and produce manager for Dorothy Lane's Washington Square store, will hand-select a box of the retailer's best local products.
All members must sign up for a small or large produce box, which costs $15 and $25 per week, respectively. They then can prepay for additional items, such as artisan bread and other bakery items ($4 per week) and wine and beer ($14).
Ed Hill chicken and other meat, eggs and other dairy and floral items are also available. Like the produce boxes, all add-ons must be purchased for an eight- or 16-week period.
The cost of each box is less than what shoppers would pay for the items sold individually, according to Williams. For instance, the $25 produce box has a retail value of $30.
Boxes will be packed every Wednesday afternoon for availability at all three Dorothy Lane locations each Thursday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. throughout two, eight-week periods: June 9-July 28 and Aug. 4-Sept. 22.
Produce items will depend on what's in season. For instance, fruit in the early weeks of the summer will be strawberries. As the season progresses, raspberries, blackberries, peaches, apples and muskmelons will become available.
Each box will contain a description of each product, the company that provided it and recipe suggestions.
The program's launch comes after strong customer response to a CSA Dorothy Lane participated in during the summers of 2009 and 2010. Called “Farm 2 Fork Fresh,” the program was operated by a third party, which delivered local fruits and vegetables to Dorothy Lane stores for pickup. That effort failed, however, in July 2010 after Farm 2 Fork experienced financial difficulties, according to Williams.
Based on the popularity of Farm 2 Fork, Williams suggested that Dorothy Lane launch a local food club of its own.
“We deal with so many local farmers, so why not do it ourselves?” he said.
Dorothy Lane defines local food as anything produced within a 250- mile radius of a Dorothy Lane store, according to Williams.
Customers can sign up for the Honestly Local club online at www.dorothylane.com/localfoodclub, or by filling out forms available in-store.
