Local Foods Plymouth (LFP) is the first online farmers market in the country. It began in 2006 as a collaboration between the members and staff of D Acres Educational Farm and the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI). The innovative idea to create an on-line platform connecting local buyers with area farmers got off the ground using a small start-up grant from the US Department of Agriculture.


The online year-round market – now operated weekly by PAREI – has grown from 9 to 40 farmers and food producers. During the pandemic, the program grew by 630% and began offering curbside pick-up and home delivery. 


PAREI is a 501C-3 non-profit membership organization that encourages and promotes energy conservation, energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in the Plymouth region by offering programs and resources that encompass energy equity, energy education, community building, solar energy services and local food sourcing. Over the years, LFP has been an integral part of fulfilling PAREI’s mission by providing members with an avenue to reduce the environmental and economic impact caused by the energy-embedded in food choices, transportation and production.