FEATURED IN GEEKWIRE

Founder - CEO

Lonely Produce

"We make it simple for businesses to buy local produce directly from the source"

Jan 2018 - May 2019

THE PROBLEM

Farm-to-table dining is a powerful movement, but it's a challenge for local produce growers to get their spinach and peaches onto restaurant menus. The current local distribution model is inefficient - neither farmers nor restaurants are happy with how the produce ordering process works and they have few affordable alternatives.

THE SOLUTION

An online marketplace connecting farmers with buyers on an easy-to-use platform. Farmers create a profile and list their goods in real-time. Local restaurants and buyers can browse produce in real time, set notifications for items they need, and order with the click of a button - picking up directly from the farmer or arranging delivery.

THE STORY

Lonely Produce was born over a beer with local farmer Brian Collins of Collins Family Orchards. The conversation revealed how inefficient the local distribution model is - neither farmers nor restaurants were happy with how produce ordering worked, and they had few affordable alternatives. We built an online marketplace where farmers can offer produce and chefs can make requests for specific items. Farmers are able to sell some goods at full price, and if they have a bumper crop, they can provide discounts or put produce up for auction. Our primary focus was eliminating friction in the ordering process and developing tools specifically built for farmers and buyers.

KEY METRICS

Summer 2018

Pilot Duration

Transaction Fee

Up to $25k

Accelerator Award

CHALLENGES ADDRESSED

Inefficient local distribution - neither farmers nor restaurants were happy with current ordering process

Lack of affordable alternatives for small-scale produce distribution

Difficulty getting local produce onto restaurant menus despite farm-to-table demand

Farmers waste perfectly good produce due to lack of market access

Seasonal nature of farming creates cash flow challenges

Competing with Amazon for tech talent in Seattle market

OUTCOMES & IMPACT

Successfully piloted platform during Summer 2018 connecting Seattle-area farmers to restaurants

Delivered produce to Reuben's Brews for their Sour beer production

Awarded up to $25k in Jones + Foster Accelerator funding at University of Washington

Featured in GeekWire Startup Spotlight, validating market need

Built relationships with Collins Family Orchards and other Washington farms

Proved farm-to-table relationships can be brought online successfully

ACHIEVEMENTS

Featured in GeekWire Startup Spotlight (February 2019)

Awarded Jones + Foster Accelerator funding at University of Washington (up to $25k)

Successfully piloted platform connecting Seattle-area farmers to restaurants over summer 2018

Built mobile-friendly solution understanding that both farmers and restaurateurs are on the go

Delivered peaches to Reuben's Brews in Seattle for their Sour beer production

Developed relationships with Collins Family Orchards and other local Washington farms

Rentcito

Lonely Produce - We make it simple for businesses to buy local produce directly from the source

# Lonely Produce
## We make it simple for businesses to buy local produce directly from the source

### Founder
Andrew Clapp (Founder - CEO)

### Period
Jan 2018 - May 2019

### Status
FEATURED IN GEEKWIRE

### Description
A Seattle-based food-waste startup that built an online marketplace connecting local farmers with restaurants and buyers to move surplus or 'imperfect' produce before it spoiled.

### Full Story
Lonely Produce was born over a beer with local farmer Brian Collins of Collins Family Orchards. The conversation revealed how inefficient the local distribution model is - neither farmers nor restaurants were happy with how produce ordering worked, and they had few affordable alternatives. We built an online marketplace where farmers can offer produce and chefs can make requests for specific items. Farmers are able to sell some goods at full price, and if they have a bumper crop, they can provide discounts or put produce up for auction. Our primary focus was eliminating friction in the ordering process and developing tools specifically built for farmers and buyers.

### Problem Solved
Farm-to-table dining is a powerful movement, but it's a challenge for local produce growers to get their spinach and peaches onto restaurant menus. The current local distribution model is inefficient - neither farmers nor restaurants are happy with how the produce ordering process works and they have few affordable alternatives.

### Solution
An online marketplace connecting farmers with buyers on an easy-to-use platform. Farmers create a profile and list their goods in real-time. Local restaurants and buyers can browse produce in real time, set notifications for items they need, and order with the click of a button - picking up directly from the farmer or arranging delivery.

### Challenges Addressed
- Inefficient local distribution - neither farmers nor restaurants were happy with current ordering process
- Lack of affordable alternatives for small-scale produce distribution
- Difficulty getting local produce onto restaurant menus despite farm-to-table demand
- Farmers waste perfectly good produce due to lack of market access
- Seasonal nature of farming creates cash flow challenges
- Competing with Amazon for tech talent in Seattle market

### Outcomes & Impact
- Successfully piloted platform during Summer 2018 connecting Seattle-area farmers to restaurants
- Delivered produce to Reuben's Brews for their Sour beer production
- Awarded up to $25k in Jones + Foster Accelerator funding at University of Washington
- Featured in GeekWire Startup Spotlight, validating market need
- Built relationships with Collins Family Orchards and other Washington farms
- Proved farm-to-table relationships can be brought online successfully

### Key Achievements
- Featured in GeekWire Startup Spotlight (February 2019)
- Awarded Jones + Foster Accelerator funding at University of Washington (up to $25k)
- Successfully piloted platform connecting Seattle-area farmers to restaurants over summer 2018
- Built mobile-friendly solution understanding that both farmers and restaurateurs are on the go
- Delivered peaches to Reuben's Brews in Seattle for their Sour beer production
- Developed relationships with Collins Family Orchards and other local Washington farms

### Features
- Real-time produce listing for farmers with profile creation
- Chef request system for specific items with notifications
- Auction feature for surplus crops and bumper harvests
- Mobile-friendly ordering interface for on-the-go users
- 5% transaction fee model for sustainable business
- Direct pickup or delivery arrangement options

### Tech Stack
React, Node.js, PostgreSQL, Stripe, AWS, Webflow

### Metrics
- Summer 2018 Pilot Duration
- 5% Transaction Fee
- Up to $25k Accelerator Award

### Key Lessons
- Talk to everyone who will listen - the local startup community in Seattle was invaluable
- In the beginning, we chased business models that made money immediately at the expense of long-term sustainability
- You're competing with Amazon for talent, so early-stage outsourcing can be a good fit
- Farm-to-table requires solving logistics, not just connections
- Seasonal businesses need year-round engagement strategies

### Press Coverage
- A beer with a farmer sparks Lonely Produce, a new marketplace that connects farmers to restaurants (GeekWire)
- Startups Awarded Jones + Foster Accelerator Funding at the University of Washington (UW Buerk Center)

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