Hi folks–
I just learned about a new app being launched in April to connect local food consumers with local farms. It runs all over the country and the developers are first gen farmers with tech backgrounds (gotta love it!).
It’s called Red Hen and they are signing up farms right now, with a benefit to farms who sign up before April (six months of waiving the app fees).
Check it out! Maybe it will be a good fit for you, too.
There’s not a whole lot of information on their website about the actual functioning of the app. Unless I’m just missing it… Do you have any clue if it handles variable weight, meat packaging?
Great question, and that piece I don’t know. I just connected with them by email—I’m happy to ask them and report back!
Jenn
I just did the same. 
I just got a reply back from them. It is a bit unclear form their response but it sounds like they will not be supporting variable weight.
Our platform will be more focused on pounds and cuts that are pre-prepared so adjustments arent needed.
There is no demo yet buy farmers that are signed up will be able to play with the platform before it goes live. I’m signed up and can report back when I get access.
It’s interesting that the various platforms have struggled with this on the software and logistics side (and I get why that is)…some local farms I know in Vermont now sell out of their farm stores using a flat pricing system for ease in their Square system. For example, they have bins of chicken breasts from 1-1.25 lbs at X price, and 1.3-1.5 lbs at Y price. That does allow the customers choice (some actually WANT a smaller piece of meat), and seems to ease inventory management on the farm side. I do appreciate how GrazeCart was set up with estimates so the fulfillment team can go back through and adjust the pricing for actual cuts, but that’s also extra labor. Is it worth it? Not for me to answer.
Yeah, I have been fairly happy with variable weights using Eat From Farms. You tell it the average weight of each package then after it is ordered and picked you can adjust the weight before charging the customer. Sounds like it may be similar to GrazeCart but I have not used that.
I have really thought hard about doing this, but I think it makes inventory twice as difficult. Now I need inventory on each group of weights for each cut. Plus with close to 100 skus, im tight on shelf space as is.
Someone eventually will come up with the best perfect flexible solution for livestock farmers. Maybe it will be Red Hen…
Our Client Support Director also made contact and negotiated a trail period with them for when the app launches. If anyone wants more information please send me a PM and I can connect you with our staffer who has more details about them.