Door to Door Organics Pays It Forward

This year, Door to Door Organics in Colorado has developed a new type of partnership with a local farm – a partnership that is likely to become a model for similar arrangements for the other Door to Door Organics locations.

Door to Door Organics is lending Longmont’s Full Circle Farms owner Dave Asbury $50,000 to help with cash flow during the spring, which is an expensive time for farmers who need to purchase seeds, starters and equipment all at once, and don’t have much ready to sell yet.  Later in the summer when crops are harvested, Asbury will pay back Door to Door Organics in trade – i.e. vegetables that Door to Door Organics will then be able to deliver to their customers.

“Many Colorado farms rely on the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) model to help with the fact that most of their expenses occur early in the season, but they don’t receive significant sales revenue until late summer when crops are harvested,” says Colorado Location Director Bret Ebel. “However, even that model doesn’t always work – for example, Colorado's largest organic farm and CSA, Grant Family Farms, had to close last year.  It's difficult to be an organic farmer. This new type of partnership, which we are starting first with Full Circle Farms, but hope to develop with our other farmer partners – and in our other locations – is a win-win for everyone: we help them succeed in growing high quality organic produce, which we can then provide to our customers, and everyone benefits.” “Even though customers can get their full week’s worth of groceries from Door to Door Organics, organic and local produce is at the heart of our business, and has led us to over 800% in growth in four years,” said Chad Arnold, president and CEO of Door to Door Organics.  “By working directly with our local farms we bring the customer and their farmer closer together, which will help promote and sustain the viability of local organic agriculture.” At the peak of the Colorado growing season, up to 60% of Door to Door Organics’ produce is sourced from local farmers. From late June through October, Door to Door Organics also offers a Local Farm Box, containing only Colorado-grown produce. Last year, Door to Door Organics offered produce from more than 15 local farms including Full Circle Farms, First Fruits and Ela Family Farms in Hotchkiss, Grant Family Farms in Wellington, Fossil Creek Farms in Fort Collins and Isabelle Farms in Lafayette. Door to Door Organics www.DoorToDoorOrganics.com