Question 1

Can I try your items before I subscribe?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We encourage everyone to buy a 1-time trial box to sample the food and experience the process. There is no commitment to purchase a subscription when you purchase a trial box. It is just an easy way to see the quality and quantity of food you will receive if you later choose to subscribe.

Question 2

Why must I subscribe? Can't I just order whenever I want?

Accepted Answer

Most people aren't aware of the difficulties involved in raising our food. That's because most of the food found in the grocery store is from other countries. Farmers plan months or years in advance of customers buying their products. The farmer that raised the ground beef in last night's hamburger has 2 years invested in the end product. For our local farmers to consistently provide their high-quality products, they need to know there is a consumer ready to buy it. Because farmers make a commitment to us, we also need to make a commitment to them. By subscribing, you are saying that you will buy local weekly, not just occasionally.

Question 3

How does your waitlist work?

Accepted Answer

We have a limited number of spots for each type of subscription. Once those spots are filled, you can ask to be put on the waitlist. When a current subscriber cancels their subscription, the next name on the list for that particular subscription type will be emailed and offered the spot. Priority is given to current customers that wish to change their subscription, and their name goes to the top of the list. All other names are contacted in the order that they are placed on the waiting list.

Example 1: Someone cancels their Premium Hearth & Homestead Box subscription. A current subscriber with a Homestead Pantry subscription is at the top of the waiting list for the next Premium Hearth & Homestead Box spot. They are contacted first and offer the subscription.

Examples 2: Someone cancels their Premium Hearth & Homestead subscription. There are no current subscribers on the waiting list. The first name on the Hearth & Homestead Box waiting list is emailed and offered the subscription.

Question 4

How long is my commitment when I subscribe?

Accepted Answer

There is no long term commitment. You are able to stop your food box subscription with 14 days notice. When you notify us in writing (via email) that you would like to stop your subscription, we will let you know within 3-4 days the date of your last food box pickup.

Please keep in mind that spots for each location are limited. If you end your subscription, your spot may be taken by someone on the waiting list and you may not be able to resume your subscription in the future.

Question 5

How do I pay for my food?

Accepted Answer

The weekly subscription boxes use autopay through the ACH system. They are debited on Monday each week.

The additional items from our online store and trial boxes are paid for through the Square secure payment system.

Question 6

What is the 'Free Mystery Item'?

Accepted Answer

This is one of the best parts of our system! Each week, subscribers to the Hearth & Homestead, Homestead Pantry and Nourish & Thrive boxes receive a 'free mystery item' so that they can experience something new. These items vary and have included sauces, spices, teas, coffee, flowering bulbs, chicken broth kits, and desserts. It is simply an easy way to try some of the things our farms offer before you buy them.

Question 7

Is there a way to know what will be in my box each week?

Accepted Answer

Yes! In our newsletter, we post a list of items that you can expect in your box if you subscribe to the Hearth & Homestead, Homestead Pantry, or Nourish & Thrive Boxes. It gives a sneak peek at the upcoming 'Free Mystery Items' as well.

Question 8

I don't eat some of the things in the boxes. What can I do?

Accepted Answer

No problem - we have a couple of options for you. You can use our Gather Your Harvest subscription, which allows you to choose items from a menu each week, or we can create a custom box to your specifications. With both the Gather Your Harvest and the Custom Box you can still add items from the online market each week like the other subscribers. There is a minimum of $100 for a custom weekly box subscription.

Question 9

Can I skip a box?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We know that from time to time you may need to skip a food box (vacation!) and we want you to have the ability to do that. So, we allow our subscribers to skip 3 times per year, no questions asked.

Each skipped period can be up to 2 weeks for a total of 6 skipped weeks per year. Simply email us at least 14 days before the box you want to skip and that's all you have to do.

When these 6 weeks are added to the weeks skipped for holidays, it totals 9 weeks of skipped boxes. This is 17% of the year which is the maximum we can allow and still support the farms that have committed to providing food for our community. If you know that your schedule would not allow you to commit to the other weeks of the year, this system may not be the best fit for your lifestyle.

Question 10

Will the price of my subscription ever go up?

Accepted Answer

Our system is designed to help provide some stability with your weekly grocery costs. So, the price of your subscription will be stable until the end of October each year. If you subscribe in October of 2025, you will not have any price increase in your subscription for 12 months, through October 2026.

However, inflation causes the cost of producing food to go up. So, each fall the pricing is re-evaluated after our farmers determine their production costs, and you will be notified if the subscription prices will increase for the next 12 month period. You'll be given at least 14 day's notice to give you time to decide if you would like to continue with your subscription at the new price.

If you wish to make changes to your subscription during the year, it counts as cancelling your current subscription and beginning a new subscription. Your new subscription will reflect any pricing increases that happen during the year.

Question 11

What happens if I can't pick up my box at the last minute?

Accepted Answer

If you have an unexpected emergency and cannot make it to the pickup location, you can have someone else pick up your food box. Simply send us an email to let us know their name and we will happily let someone else take your box.

Question 12

Why are the Trial Boxes often sold out?

Accepted Answer

Since there are only a few farms in our area producing food to our standards and we guarantee our subscribers will get their chosen farm groceries each week, we limit the number of Trial Boxes available.

Each week there are only 10-15 Trial Boxes offered, and they can sell out early. We restock the online store on Mondays. To make sure you get yours, ordering early in the week is the best bet.

Question 13

I'm new to seasonal eating. Do you offer tips or tricks?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Transitioning from eating processed grocery store food to eating seasonal farm-fresh food is a process. We try to help our new Local Foodies in that process by offering tips, recipes, resources, and other information in our newsletter and in our private Subscriber Facebook page. Please join the community as we support each other's food journey!

Question 14

Will you be adding more pick up locations?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The interest in Tennessee Pasture to Plate has been amazing and we are working tirelessly to add additional convenient pick up locations. If you know of a neighborhood or local business that might want to partner with us as a pick up location, we'd love to chat with them.

Question 15

How often do you add new items to the online market?

Accepted Answer

They say that 'variety is the spice of life' and we agree. We love adding new farmers and producers to our Local Foodie family and that process is ongoing. When we find new local products that align with our mission and values, we work fast to make them available to our subscribers and sometimes several new items are added each week.

If you know of someone producing a high-quality local product, please have them email us - we'd love to have a chat with them.

Question 16

What happens if I lose or damage my crate or delivery bag?

Accepted Answer

Your first two crates or bags (the ones that your switch out each week) are provided at no cost. But, if you need to replace one of your them due to damage or loss, you can order a new one on the website.

Question 17

Does my food come in plastic bags?

Accepted Answer

As part of our local stewardship, we try to reduce the amount of waste we generate. Our subscribers receive their weekly food in a collapsable plastic crate that they can store in their car after they unload their groceries. The empty plastic crate is returned the following week when the next food box is picked up. We use plastic bags for our trial boxes or when it makes sense for a product (no one wants cherry tomatoes rolling around in the bottom of their crate).

Tennessee Pasture to Plate

Frequently Asked Questions