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New Pioneer Food Co-op is a three-store natural foods cooperative in Eastern Iowa, dedicated to offering high-quality local and organic produce. With a longstanding reputation for supporting local growers, New Pioneer’s produce department partners with approximately 25 regional suppliers each year. Their commitment to fostering strong, long-term relationships with farmers ensures a steady supply of fresh, locally grown produce for their customers.
Sourcing locally is a core value at New Pioneer, but it comes with unique challenges. Unlike ordering from large regional wholesalers, prioritizing local suppliers requires more coordination, communication, and logistical planning.
"We strive to build long-term relationships with growers rather than bidding out crops to the lowest bidder each year. Many of our growers invest in their infrastructure specifically to serve us better," says Michael, New Pioneer's Produce Coordinator.
Beyond relationship-building, the process of managing orders from 25 different local suppliers across three stores was time-consuming and complex. Communication gaps and logistical inefficiencies made it difficult to keep operations running smoothly.
To simplify their local purchasing process, New Pioneer turned to Local Line. By consolidating local supplier ordering onto a single platform, the co-op was able to bring efficiency and structure to what was once a fragmented system of phone calls and emails.
"Local Line has helped a lot in organizing our local orders. Our buyers can now sit down and complete multiple local orders in just a few minutes," says Michael.
Local Line also improved internal communication among store locations. With three stores and multiple managers making ordering decisions, having a centralized view of available products streamlined decision-making.
"We are all looking at the same product lists, which makes it easy for me to guide the managers to our purchase agreements. It creates consistency across stores while still allowing each location to make decisions based on their unique needs."
While New Pioneer has never struggled to find new growers—many reach out proactively due to the co-op’s strong reputation—Local Line has provided additional support in connecting them with potential new suppliers.
"We don’t require our growers to use Local Line, but over half of them do. The platform makes it easier for them to receive and manage orders efficiently. If we need help getting a new grower onboarded, Local Line is quick to assist, often setting them up the same day."
One of the key benefits of Local Line has been its ability to enhance workflow efficiency, especially when dealing with unexpected changes in supply. When growers use the inventory tracking feature, store managers can quickly see if a product is running low and adjust their orders accordingly.
Additionally, features like "favorites" and "priority products" have helped ensure the co-op meets its purchase agreement obligations throughout the year.
The Local Line team has proven to be a valuable partner for New Pioneer, providing ongoing support and responsiveness whenever needed.
"The team has been great to work with. They’re quick to respond to requests, whether it’s adding new growers or troubleshooting any issues we encounter. I’ve never had a grower tell me they weren’t happy with the platform."
With the efficiencies gained from Local Line, New Pioneer Food Co-op continues to strengthen its local sourcing program, making it easier for both their team and their growers to work together. By streamlining the ordering process and improving communication across locations, they have reinforced their commitment to supporting local agriculture while enhancing their ability to serve customers with the freshest produce available.
For other food co-ops and retailers looking to simplify their local sourcing process, New Pioneer’s success with Local Line is a testament to the power of having the right tools in place.
