ChopLocal: Local Meat Producers Go Online

ChopLocal is a family-run business founded by Jared Achen, a fourth-generation farmer from Iowa. He aimed to develop a platform that would bridge the gap between local farmers and urban buyers, enabling more efficient connections and fostering a sustainable marketplace.

Adapt CS-Cart for U.S.-based farmers to promote their products online with full legal compliance.

Key requirements included:

• Pickup calendar with date and time slots;

• Location-based product visibility;

• State-specific legal sales settings for meat products.

To bring ChopLocal to life, CS-Cart Multi-Vendor was selected as the core platform. Our team customized it to meet the strict legal and logistical demands of the U.S. meat industry.

Legal Sales Filters by State

In the U.S., meat producers must follow different rules based on the type of inspection (state, federal, CIS, or retail). To help sellers comply, we have developed a “States” module that allows vendors to select the states where they can legally sell their products.

Features added:

• Default country selector: USA;

• Multi-select the “States” field on product creation/edit pages;

• Fully supported in export/import and bulk editing;

• Accurate region names to avoid seller errors.

Pickup Calendar

To enable vendors to manage order pickups efficiently, we developed a custom calendar tool. It includes:

• “Pickup available in” setting to control time buffer before pickup;

• Date selector with color-coded availability;

• Weekly schedule setup with time slots and order limits.

A versatile and legally compliant online marketplace enabling rural producers to sell meat across U.S. states. Customers can easily browse available products, select convenient pickup times, and enjoy a seamless shopping experience. Sellers benefit from a powerful, user-friendly platform to showcase their offerings and expand their business.

"We wanted to help farmers and small businesses expand their reach while making it easier for buyers to find quality local food" —shares — Jared Achen, Founder of ChopLocal.com