Portland, Maine - June 20, 2023 - Forager, a company focused on connecting local farmers with grocers to bring consumers healthy, locally sourced food, today announced that it has been acquired by Local Line, a leading local food sourcing platform for regional food systems for North America.
Founded in 2014 by serial tech entrepreneur David Stone, Forager has successfully connected hundreds of Maine’s food producers and retailers, revitalizing Maine’s local food system. This strategic acquisition marks a significant milestone for both companies and reinforces their mutual commitment to transforming the food industry.
Forager emerged from Stone’s vision to counter the carbon-intensive industrialized food supply chain and champion Maine’s local food ecosystem. Since its inception, the platform has garnered tremendous success, facilitating connections between 150 farmers, cheese makers, and makers with over a dozen grocers in the region. With more than $20 million worth of food procured via the platform, Forager has made considerable strides towards its mission, effectively moving approximately $3.5 million worth of food through Maine each year.
Recognizing the need for expanded reach and resources nationwide, Forager has chosen to join forces with Local Line. Forager gains access to a wider customer base and a suite of innovative tools for farmers. Notably, Forager's operations will remain in Maine, reinforcing its commitment to supporting local farms and the vibrant food community within the state.
Stone, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "Maine should be a national leader in food systems. Food is the largest economic segment in the state, and this partnership will continue to accelerate this amazing culture and economy of food innovation. Forager, and now Local Line, are connecting the dots."
Local Line views this acquisition as a strategic move to enhance its offerings to farmers. "We are thrilled to welcome Forager into the Local Line family,” said Cole Jones, CEO. “This partnership strengthens our suite of tools for farmers, with Forager's grocer-facing platform complementing our existing solutions. Together, we can empower more farmers and revolutionize the way local food systems operate."
Transaction details regarding the acquisition remain private. Both Local Line and Forager look forward to a seamless integration of their operations and leveraging their combined expertise to drive innovation and growth within the food industry.
About Forager™ (Forager1, LLC)
The mission of Forager is to accelerate the growth of the local food economy and make locally sourced food more widely available to all. The company's online and mobile platform digitizes and streamlines the procurement-to-payment process, saving time and costs for grocers, co-ops, farmers, producers, and other buyers and sellers of local food. For more information about Forager, please see goforager.com, and follow Forager on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
With a focus on reviving Maine's local food system and reducing carbon emissions within the supply chain, Forager has facilitated the procurement of over $20 million worth of food through its platform. By supporting local farms and promoting sustainability, Forager has become a crucial piece of the puzzle in connecting various stakeholders within the food ecosystem.
About Local Line
Local Line is the leading commerce platform for the local food system. Headquartered in Waterloo, ON, Canada, Local Line helps thousands of farms and food producers sell to both end consumers and enterprise food buyers. Enterprise food buyers rely on the Local Line platform for access to local farms and suppliers, and use Local Line as a way to simplify and scale local food procurement.
