Shoppers will soon be able to “click and collect” their weekly shop straight from Sussex farmers as a new scheme launches in Worthing.

Farmdrop is a global online marketplace which aims to cut out the middleman by putting customers directly in touch with nearby farmers.

Chief executive Ben Pugh said: “Our format is for people to do good honest local food shopping – for them to be able to source local groceries at a sensible price.”


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Game-changer Mr Pugh, 35, from London, came up with the idea while he was working in finance analysing the profits and supply chains of supermarkets.

He said: “Research shows that only 11% of all the total money spent on food goes to the producers. It’s crazy.

“With Farmdrop they will keep 80%. This is a real game-changer.”

Explaining how Farmdrop works, he said: “After customers have ordered what they want, the veg orders get sent to the growers, fish orders to the fisherman, then producers go to a drop off point a couple of days later and hand the produce over.”

Following pilots in London last year, Farmdrop is now being rolled out across the UK and Worthing is the first area in the country to set one up.

Local residents, called Keepers, are being recruited to organise projects in their own areas.

Anne Weinhold, who is helping to set up the Worthing project, said: “It supports the local community, saves on food miles, will bring more employment to the area and will keep money within the local economy.”

Ms Weinhold said they have had lots of interest from people already, ahead of the ‘go live’ date of April 26.

She said: “We have lots of producers on board, people selling eggs, meat, dairy, vegetables, honey and cakes.”

One producer involved is Goodwood Home Farm, which will be selling organic milk and its award-winning cheeses through the site.

Lizzie Vinnicombe, sales and product development manager of Goodwood Home Farm, said: “For internet shopping to be used to positive effect for local business is a great thing.”

For more information go to www.farmdrop.co.uk.