Nashville startup The Local Collaborative launches food delivery

A Vanderbilt University grad with a passion for boosting the local food economy has launched a business to deliver goods from Nashville farms, bakeries and artisans straight to consumers.

In its second month since the website launched, The Local Collaborative is now working with about 35 local producers. The business offers a curated selection of produce, prepared foods, baked goods and artisanal products.

“You get something that’s literally been baked or butchered or picked specifically for you,” said Ashley Schuering, co-founder of The Local Collaborative with Steven Klein.

Items available for delivery range from locally grown kale to Mitchell Deli roast beef and Chubby Bunny baby food. Baked goods, including a Momma Nik’s cheesecake and banana muffins from Slow Hand Coffee & Bakery, also are made to order and delivered.

The business is like an online farmers market but with a more limited selection.

“Somebody can go (on the website) and create their own CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) essentially. You can go and get exactly the fruits and vegetables you want if they’re in season, plus prepared foods. So it’s like browsing the store aisles when you go to the grocery store (but with all local products),” Schuering said.

The idea for The Local Collaborative was born out of Schuering’s desire to support local farmers. She’s worked in the restaurant industry for nearly 15 years and said she’s noticed how difficult it can be for farmers to successfully operate a business.

“The idea was actually to really support local farmers just because so many of the people that feed us on a day-to-day basis are in debt up to their ears. They don’t get paid well, and because they spend all their time farming, they don’t have time necessarily to invest in actually running a business and being profitable from it,” Schuering said.

Schuering, who attended Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management, said the business is still in its infancy and it will evolve. She’s looking into partnering with a local grocery store for delivery.

The concept of on-demand delivery services is not new to Nashville. Services such as Shipt and Postmates deliver groceries and takeout food from restaurants.

On-demand services look made to order for Nashville

But The Local Collaborative merges the convenience of not having to leave your home to buy food with the growing trend of supporting local producers.

To buy from The Local Collaborative, customers can browse products on the website and place a $50 minimum order. There are three options for pickup or delivery: $5 for pickup at specified locations; $15 delivery to the Gulch, Green Hills, Hillsboro Village and 12South neighborhoods; or $20 delivery from Rush Bicycle Messengers. There's typically a 48-hour turnaround time for orders so the producers can prepare the goods.

“We’re trying to bring back sort of the milkman idea where you know who’s dropping off your food and there’s just one degree of separation between you and who’s making what you’re putting in your body,” Schuering said.

Reach Lizzy Alfs at 615-726-5948 and on Twitter @lizzyalfs.