How to start a food box subscription business

You want to grow fresh local produce, but don’t know how to sell it.

Download a four-part workshop series on how to start a food box subscription business.

With each session, you will walk through what it takes to create a weekly food box subscription for your container farming business.

Download all the session recordings and bonus materials by filling out the form once!

At the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares saw a surge of interest because people wanted to support local growers. Plus, 52% of Canadians said they would pay a premium for locally grown indoor produce. But how do you take advantage of this market?

This workshop series will help you do just that. 

Every week, join one-hour long interactive workshops with guest speakers to understand the various moving parts of a CSA produce box subscription.

Session 1:  Introduction to CSA food boxes with Carley Basler, Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Sustainability Coordinator

Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 1pm ET/10am PT

  • What is a CSA? 

  • How does a weekly food box subscription work? 

  • What can we learn from Rocket Greens, a successful food box subscription business? 

  • How does the first year compare to the fourth year?

Catch a sneak peek at Carley Basler talking about her weekly subscription “Launch Box” with Rocket Greens.

Session 2: Financial breakdown of the CSA food box model with Growcer

Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 1pm ET/10am PT

  • What can I expect for start up costs, operating expenses, and a return on investment?

  • What numbers do I need to know to be profitable?

  • Want to explore other business models like wholesale or business partnerships? Check out your options with the Choosing a Business Model webinar.

  • Bonus: Fill out the ROI Collection Sheet to send back to Growcer and see how your numbers stack up! 

Session 3: Business planning and direct marketing with Darren Stott, Greenchain Consulting

Tuesday, February 15, 2021 at 1pm ET/10am PT

  • How do I assess if my market is good for a CSA food box?

  • How do I market my food box?

  • How do I keep subscribers and build my customer base?

  • Bonus: Receive a template of a survey you can share to gauge customer interest.

Session 4: Food box logistics with Growcer and Local Line

Tuesday, February 22, 2021 at 1pm ET/10am PT

  • What do the logistics look like, from packaging to online store options?

  • How do I plan my plant schedules and make sure my food box always has enough food?

  • Bonus: Gain access to extra material diving deeper into each session topic.

Whether you’re looking for a platform to bounce ideas off, or are stuck during the planning process, this workshop series will inspire you to get growing. 

If you didn’t join live, don’t worry! Recordings and bonus materials are now available through the form above.