UpHarvest is a community for buying and sharing locally & ethically-grown organics and farm experiences. The goal of the platform is to reduce the environmental impacts of unsustainable agricultural practices by encouraging organic/regenerative farming and making organics more accessible.
The platform
Our aim is to build autonomous, self-organising communities on the UpHarvest platform. Once you sign up, you can communicate directly with local producers in your area and buy directly from them.
Buying from local farmers
Some farmers deliver weekly. Some do not offer delivery, which means that you can pick up your orders from their farms - this gives you the wonderful opportunity to see where your food comes from and connect with local farmers on a more personal level.
Buying from local distributors
You may also buy from local distributors who represent local farmers and community gardens. Distributors may offer same-day or next-day delivery, within specific time slots.
Events, farm experiences and farmers' markets
You can also buy tickets to events and farm experiences on UpHarvest and access announcements about farmers' markets in your area - keep an eye out for the latest updates
You need to sign up to create an account. You may sign up with your email address and a secure password. Alternatively, you may sign up with Facebook, Google, or LinkedIn if that is more convenient for you.
Once you submit your details, you will still need to confirm your email address before you can join UpHarvest for security reasons. To do so, simply log in to your email account and click on the link we sent you to confirm your email address.
Please ensure that you use the link immediately after it is sent to you, otherwise, the link will expire. If the link expires, you will need to reset your password by clicking on the "Forgot password" link, which can be found on the "Log in" page.
If you have any questions about creating or deleting an account, please contact us at hello@upharvest.co.
According to the European Commission's organic production rules, organics are products produced based on a number of key principles, such as:
- Prohibiting of the use of GMOs
- Forbidding the use of ionising radiation
- Limiting the use of artificial fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides
- Prohibiting the use of hormones and restricting the use of antibiotics and only when necessary for animal health
Farm experiences are things like wine tasting, farm tours, open farm days, fruit picking, farm stays, and so on. They are designed to help consumers connect with local producers on a more personal level and to acquaint themselves with where their food comes from.
Virtual farm experiences are farm experiences, which take place online. They are designed to support local organic farmers with additional sources of income as they navigate the impacts of COVID-19 on their businesses.
Farm spaces are spaces such as barns, cottages, and lodges, which guests can book for things like weddings, meetings, birthday parties, retreats, farm stays, and so on.
Certification is preferred by us but non-certified producers can join UpHarvest as long as they strictly adhere to organic production principles - please refer to your country's organic production rules. If you are from the EU, please refer to the European Commission's organic production rules.
No.
To create a listing, simply select a listing category, enter the details of the listing (please ensure the listing is as detailed as possible to help the consumer with their buying decision), then post the listing.
UpHarvest charges a 5-percent service fee for paid food items; 10 percent for farm spaces; 10 percent for farm experiences; and 0 percent for free items.
All fees are split equally between the seller and the consumer, i.e., for paid food items, for instance, the 5% service fee is split between the seller (2.5%) and the consumer (2.5%), and for farm experiences and farm spaces, the 10% service fee is split between the seller (5%) and the consumer (5%).
Supporting local organic farmers during the COVID-19 outbreak
We created UpHarvest to encourage organic farming and increase access to organic products and services because we believe these have an important role to play in making our planet a liveable place for future generations.
With that in mind, and given the manner in which the prevailing situation has unfolded in recent weeks and the toll this crisis may have on organic farmers, we are suspending the UpHarvest service fee with immediate effect until further notice. All items listed on the platform will incur no cost to the farmer, with the exception of Stripe’s payment processing fee.
Consumers are charged the moment you accept their requests. Once a transaction is successfully confirmed and processed, an UpHarvest payout will be sent to your bank account within 7 business days for the first transaction, and much earlier onwards. Our payment service provider is Stripe and payout speed is dependent on them.
Only organically produced food items may be listed on UpHarvest. Listed farm experiences, farm spaces, and events must be hosted by or in association with organic producers.
Once a request is made by a consumer, you will receive an email or a notification on UpHarvest confirming this.
To accept the request simply log in if you are not already logged in, click/tap your profile avatar then click/tap "Inbox", you will see a message containing the request. Click/tap the "Accept request" button to accept the request.
Simply leave a message for the consumer, if necessary, using the text area provided below the "Accept request" button.
Your payment details may be added as follows:
Profile avatar > Settings > Select "Payments" (on the left of your screen) > Add your name, address (required by Stripe), and bank account details > Press "Save".
If you are unsure about how to add your payment details, do not hesitate to contact us at hello@upharvest.co.
Once a request is sent by a consumer, you have 3 days to accept it. The request will lapse after this period and the consumer will be notified.
No. You may choose to reject a request as long as this is done in good faith. Please be aware that requests that lie dormant for 3 days will automatically lapse and you will need to send a message to the consumer directly through the lapsed request if you are interested in the request.
Whilst this is preferred as it enhances the consumer's experience, it is not compulsory. Since UpHarvest is location-based, local consumers may wish to pick up their orders from your farm, store, or premises.
Any events relevant to organics may be listed on UpHarvest. Events such as workshops, lectures, demonstrations, etc. may be listed by or in association with a local organic producer.
All organic producers on the platform are either certified producers or non-certified producers who use organic principles in their production processes. They are also required to satisfy stringent food safety regulations. Any producer or seller alleged to have fallen below food safety standards will be reported to regulators and removed from the platform.
While all organic producers on the platform do their utmost to deliver high-quality organic products, the results are dependent on nature because no artificial inputs are used to determine yield outcomes.
To make a request, simply click/tap on the item you are interested in and then click the "Request" button. Please ensure you have read the details of the listing thoroughly to make sure you are happy with it before sending your request. If you need to leave a specific message for the seller, you may do so using the messaging feature.
A request only becomes binding once it is accepted by a seller. Once accepted by the seller, the request cannot be modified. If for some reason you need to modify or cancel a request you must notify the seller immediately via the messaging feature.
A decision to modify or cancel a request is dependent on the seller's own cancellation policy - this will be communicated to you prior to submitting your request.
A request cannot be modified once it has been sent. However, if you think there is a problem with your request, you must notify the seller immediately via the messaging feature before your request is accepted, letting them know you wish to cancel and/or resubmit the request.
Members are advised to report any suspicious behaviour or activity on the platform, not to send their personal details while making a request and not to communicate for the purpose of making a transaction outside of the platform. Doing any of the above is at your own risk and violates our platform's terms of use.
If you see anything suspicious, contact us immediately at hello@upharvest.co.
