How to Get Started with a Free Local Picks Account

Updated

You can get started on Local Picks by creating a free account, then using it to save favorite farms and products, create and manage listings, claim a farm you own, and suggest edits to existing listings. Local Picks describes itself as a community connecting people with local producers of fresh, affordable products, with over 18,000 listings in its page evidence (the site also references over 14,000 farms and markets in its farm-owner section). The steps below follow what the site itself presents.

Create your free account

  1. Go to localpicks.org.
  2. Use the Sign Up option (the page also shows a Sign Me Up! button and a Get started with a free account section).
  3. Complete the sign-up to unlock the platform's features.

The site states it is free to get started. It does not publish pricing details beyond that, so treat any future paid tiers as unconfirmed.

What you unlock after signing in

Once signed in, the page lists these capabilities:

  • Save Your Favorites — keep track of the farms and products you like.
  • Create and Manage Listings — add your own business or a community farm you want to put on the map.
  • Claim Listings and Suggest Edits — propose improvements to existing listings, or claim a farm you own for enhanced visibility.
  • Stay Up to Date — get notified when your favorites become available.

Find farms and producers

Local Picks is built around discovery. You can browse listings and read recent reviews from other members. The page shows an example review for Sprangers Orchard, described as "Amazing spot for apples!" — a signal that reviews are tied to specific farms and products.

To search, use the Find Farms area and the site's search. Results reflect the listings other users and owners have added, so coverage depends on community contributions in your area.

Connect with other members

Local Picks also supports a social layer:

  • Find Friends — search by name, email, or username.
  • Follow friends — see their favorite farms, reviews, and products.
  • Invite — enter an email and the site prepares a message for you to open, review, and send.

Add or claim a listing

If you own a farm or want to help the directory stay current:

  • Create a Listing — add your business or a favorite community farm.
  • Suggest a Feature — send feedback on the platform itself.
  • Claim a farm you own — take control of an existing listing for enhanced visibility.
  • Suggest edits — improve details on listings you don't own.

Farm owners are invited to join a network the site describes as over 14,000 farms and markets to reach more customers.

Common snags to expect

  • Listing coverage varies by area. Because listings come from the community, a sparse region may show few results.
  • Claiming requires ownership. The claim option is meant for farms you own; edits are the path for everything else.
  • Notifications depend on favorites. The "stay up to date" feature works from the farms and products you've saved, so save first.
  • Invites are manual. The invite flow prepares an email for you to review and send rather than sending it automatically.

Start by signing up, saving a few nearby farms, and then deciding whether you want to contribute a listing or claim one you own.