Product Roadmap
LocallyGrown has been around for 23 years, but the platform you see today was completely rebuilt in 2025. This roadmap shows where we're headed next.
Solo founder transparency: I'm one person building this platform while supporting 26 active markets. Timelines are estimates based on current priorities and support load. Have urgent needs? Email me to discuss.
What's Live Right Now
The 2025 rewrite delivered a modern, fast platform with:
🛒 Core Commerce
- Multi-vendor storefronts
- Product listings with photos & descriptions
- Flexible order windows (pickup, delivery, shipping)
- Shopping cart with quantity management
- Order confirmation emails
- Customer order history
💳 Payments
- Stripe integration (credit/debit cards)
- Pay-at-pickup support
- Automatic fee calculation (3% + Stripe fees)
- Markets manage their own Stripe accounts and grower payments
👨🌾 Farmer Tools
- Product management dashboard
- Inventory tracking per order window
- Order fulfillment views
- Sales reporting
- Customer communication tools
🏪 Market Admin
- Multi-farmer market management
- Order window scheduling
- Location management (pickup & delivery)
- Customizable email templates & campaigns
- Volunteer management & shift tracking
- Market-wide announcements
- Order fulfillment tracking
- CSV export (orders, products, users)
- Financial reporting & analytics
- Farmer onboarding tools
✅ Production ready. These features are stable and handling real orders for 26 markets today.
🔨 In Progress (Next 1-3 Months)
Enhanced Reporting & Analytics
Target: December 2025What: Advanced insights beyond current financial reporting & CSV exports
- 📊 Sales trends visualization over time
- 📈 Top products by revenue (interactive charts)
- 👥 Customer retention & lifetime value metrics
- 🔍 Comparative analysis (week-over-week, year-over-year)
- 📅 Seasonal demand forecasting
Why now: Current markets have basic reports & CSV exports but are asking for visual analytics to make better inventory decisions.
Mobile App (Progressive Web App)
Target: January 2026What: Install-to-home-screen mobile experience
- Works offline for order review
- Push notifications for order reminders
- Camera integration for easy product photos
- Faster mobile checkout
Why now: 60%+ of shopping happens on mobile. Current site works but could be better.
Order Communication Improvements
Target: February 2026What: Enhancing existing email system with SMS & automation
- 📱 SMS notifications (opt-in, NEW)
- 📧 Enhanced email template editor (already have basic templates)
- ⏰ Automated order reminder scheduling (NEW)
- 🔔 Smart pickup reminder automation (NEW)
Why now: Existing email system is comprehensive, but markets want SMS & automation to reduce missed pickups.
📋 Planned (6-12 Months Out)
These features are on the roadmap but timing depends on support load and market feedback.
Subscription Management (CSA Boxes)
Target: Q2 2026What: Recurring weekly/monthly subscriptions
- Set up subscription products
- Automatic recurring billing
- Skip week / pause subscription options
- Customizable box contents
Why this matters: CSA farms need subscription support. Currently a gap vs competitors.
⚠️ Currently available in: Local Line, Local Food Marketplace
Multi-Language Support
Target: Q2 2026What: Spanish language option to start
- UI translation
- Product description translations
- Bilingual email templates
Why this matters: Many local food markets serve multilingual communities.
⚠️ Currently available in: Open Food Network (multiple languages)
SNAP/EBT Payment Support
Target: Q3 2026What: Accept SNAP benefits via compatible processor
- EBT card processing integration
- Dual payment support (split SNAP + credit)
- SNAP-eligible product marking
Why this matters: Critical for markets serving SNAP customers.
The challenge: Complex integration with limited processor options. This one will take time to get right.
⚠️ Currently available in: Local Food Marketplace, Open Food Network
Delivery Route Management
Target: Q3 2026What: Tools for managing delivery logistics
- Route planning and optimization
- Delivery time slot selection
- Driver assignment
- Real-time delivery tracking
Why this matters: Markets doing home delivery need routing tools.
Current workaround: Markets export orders and use external routing software.
Wholesale/Bulk Ordering
Target: Q4 2026What: Features for institutional buyers (restaurants, schools)
- Volume pricing tiers
- Invoice-based payment terms
- Purchase order generation
- Custom pricing per buyer
Why this matters: Helps farmers access larger revenue streams.
✅ Strong feature in: Local Line, Local Food Marketplace
🤔 Under Consideration
These are features I'm evaluating but haven't committed to yet. Feedback welcome.
Gift Cards
Prepaid credit for market purchases. Would require significant payment processing changes.
Demand level: Medium (3-4 markets asking)
Loyalty/Points Program
Reward repeat customers. Complex to build well.
Demand level: Low (1-2 markets asking)
Advanced Inventory Forecasting
ML-based predictions of what to grow/stock based on order history.
Demand level: Medium (interesting but not urgent)
Integrated Marketing Tools
Email campaigns, social media scheduling, etc.
Demand level: Low (better external tools exist)
Have feedback on these? Email me if any of these would be a game-changer for your market.
❌ What I'm NOT Building
Transparency about what's out of scope helps you make informed decisions.
Complex Warehouse Management
Why not: LocallyGrown is built for community markets where farmers manage their own inventory. Full warehouse systems (like Local Food Marketplace offers) require different architecture.
If you need this: Consider Local Food Marketplace instead.
Multi-Tenant White-Label Platform
Why not: I'm focused on serving markets directly, not building platform-as-a-service for other companies to resell.
If you need this: Open Food Network's model might fit better.
Blockchain/Crypto Payments
Why not: Local food is about trust and relationships. Crypto adds complexity without solving real problems for farmers or customers.
If you need this: I don't know anyone building this either 😄
Native iOS/Android Apps
Why not: Progressive Web Apps give 90% of the benefit without app store complexity. As a solo developer, maintaining three codebases isn't sustainable.
Alternative: PWA ships in Q1 2026 and works great on mobile.
⚖️ How I Prioritize Features
As a solo founder, I can't build everything. Here's how I decide what's next:
1. Market Impact
Does it help existing markets sell more effectively? Features that increase sales get priority.
2. Competitive Gaps
Am I losing prospects to competitors because of missing features? Those move up.
3. Implementation Complexity
Will it take 2 weeks or 6 months? I balance quick wins with strategic investments.
4. Support Load
Are current markets struggling with workarounds? Reducing friction matters.
5. Platform Sustainability
Does it make LocallyGrown more stable and maintainable long-term? Tech debt paydown counts.
Feature requests welcome: I track all requests and revisit priorities quarterly. If something you need isn't on this roadmap, let me know.
📅 About These Timelines
I want to be honest about what solo founder development means:
Support Comes First
If existing markets hit issues, development pauses. Keeping 26 markets running smoothly is priority #1.
Timelines Are Estimates
These aren't promises—they're informed guesses. Complex features often reveal surprises.
Flexibility is a Feature
Because I'm not beholden to investors or a board, I can pivot quickly when markets need something urgently.
You Can Influence Priorities
If 5 markets ask for the same thing, it jumps the queue. Your feedback directly shapes what gets built.
Want to Influence What Gets Built?
The best way to shape this roadmap is to become a customer. Active markets get direct input on priorities.
Not ready yet? Bookmark this page and check back quarterly. I update it as features ship and new priorities emerge.