At FoodHub we’re all about making it easier and more efficient for you to find what you’re looking for. One of the best ways you can save time is by saving your searches. If you’ve found yourself searching for the same product or same kind of producer over and over again, saving your search will bring you one step closer to making the connections you need right when you log in to the site.
It’s easy – run your search, filter your results, and once all your parameters are defined, SAVE THIS SEARCH. Once you’ve saved your search you can come back to it time and time again and get the latest results in seconds.
Check out these five ways you can save searches and save time in the process:
1. Search by product: There are hundreds of products in FoodHub’s taxonomy. Search by specific variety or general category – you’ll find storage, sweet, cipollini, or just plain old onions. Product search is at FoodHub’s core and it’s easy – type whatever product you’re looking for in the search bar at the top of the page, then filter your results based on geography, certifications, or other attributes. Tip: Keep your searches broad for more results.
2. Search by business type: There are lots of different kinds of sellers on FoodHub – farmers, ranchers, dairies, fishermen, breweries, distilleries or other specialty producers. Whether you’re a school searching for your first farm connection or are a food cart looking for a small producer who can cater to your nimble needs, there’s someone worth finding on FoodHub. Go to Member Directory and select the kind of seller you’re looking to find by clicking the relevant Business Types in the left sidebar.
3. Search for local products already carried by your distributor: Find your distributor in a list when you scroll to the bottom of the navigation bar and click the truck icon under Distribution Method. Once you’ve selected them, your search results will filter to show only those sellers whose products are on their trucks.
4. Search by what’s in season now: Building a local AND seasonal menu is increasingly valuable in most food service settings. Creating that seasonally-sourced menu is just a few clicks away when you conduct a product search and filter your results by Availability. Just use the check boxes to select the month you’re looking for.
5. Search for potential partners: Sourcing locally can be challenging, but it’s easier when you work together. Use FoodHub’s search to find other businesses in your area with whom you might collaborate on group buys, overcoming distribution hurdles, or sharing success stories. Just go to the Member Directory, filter by your desired partners’ business types and then sort by distance to find those Members who are close to you.
In February 2008, Zoë Bradbury left her job at Ecotrust, where she was a regular contributor to Edible Portland, to start farming on Oregon’s southern coast. Right after leaving us, she wrote, “I pulled up to my new greenhouse on Floras Creek with a riot of saw-toothed artichoke divisions in the back of the truck, teased them apart into one-gallon transplant pots, and officially began my first season farming for myself, next door to my mom and sister.”
