Important Change to Little Farm Store!

Dear Little Farm Store Customer,

Little Farm Store is excited to announce a significant transformation in our business approach. Since our inception, we've encountered numerous small but impactful regulations that limit your options for local food choices. We are firm believers in your freedom to choose exactly what you eat and in supporting producers who offer high-quality, clean food. Our goal is to make these choices simpler for everyone involved.

We believe that the food system needs to be localized to ensure the prosperity and health of communities.  Small farms and producers face difficulties because many food regulations, designed with large-scale operations in mind, don't account for the lower-risk environment of smaller operations. These rules can unfairly burden small producers, limiting their ability to market their products and making it tougher for you to access locally sourced, fresh food.

Embracing Food Sovereignty and Community Connection

Our solution empowers you to fully exercise your right to choose the food you wish to purchase. We are transitioning to a Private Member Association model to facilitate this, beginning May 1st.

A Private Member Association (PMA) is a fully legal solution that allows producers and consumers to avoid excessive regulations regarding the growing and crafting of food, while building a better community, centered on locally produced food and other products.

A PMA operates independently of public statutes and regulations. Member interactions are governed solely by our internal rules, creating a private contract that exists separate from state and federal statutes. This unique structure permits our producers to offer a broader range of products, such as raw butter, yogurt, kombucha, salsa, pickles, and even alcohol (like homemade wine), without the constraints imposed by cottage laws or USDA and FDA inspections.

Ensuring Safety and Quality Within the PMA

The safety and quality of our food is paramount, despite our independence from regulators. There are very valid reasons why some food regulations were put in place, and we do NOT ignore those concerns in this organization. There are rigorous internal safety requirements and education about best practices to keep everyone as safe as possible.  

The internal safety requirements, the high level of transparency, and mutual honesty between producers and consumers ensures all products circulating within the association are safe to consume, prepared in sanitary conditions, grown properly, and advertised accurately. 

Benefits of Membership

• Food Choice: Purchase local goods that you would be prohibited from purchasing through normal channels (raw butter, fresh yogurt, fermented foods, etc)

• Community Connection:  Shake the hand that feeds you. Get to know the people who produce your food through the online community, farm tours, workshops, and other events. Plus, connect with like-minded people in the region.

• Build a Prosperous Local Economy: When we support local farmers, producers, and businesses, most of the money from those transactions stays within the community, creating a loop that builds everyone up. To create strong, resilient, independent communities, support local business and be a big part of the solution.

A Vision for Sustainable Local Food Systems

By joining this Private Membership Association, we are not just creating a marketplace; we are cultivating a movement. A movement that champions local food sovereignty, nurtures community connections, and paves the way for a more sustainable, prosperous food ecosystem. Together, we have the power to redefine our relationship with food, ensuring you have access to fresh, high-quality local food entirely of your choosing, while also supporting the prosperity of local farmers and cottage businesses.

So, What Does This Mean for You?

Your weekly interactions with the Little Farm Store Association will largely remain the same, but with some exciting enhancements. You'll enjoy the added perks of being part of a closer community and having access to a broader selection of products, which will only grow as our membership expands. 

The big change is that LFS products will not be available to non-members after May 1st. We have made this decision in order to better serve buyers and producers alike, and to practice our natural right to choose the food we eat.  We have been blessed with a loyal following, and we sincerely hope you will join us in this promising next part of the journey to create a long-term local food system.

The transition has begun, so you are invited to sign up now and avoid the rush on May 1st. Be on the lookout for sign up instructions that will follow in just a day or two.

With gratitude,

Ryan Goolsby, Owner &

Rene Cleveland, Marketing & Outreach