1. How do I join the co-op?
First, carefully read through the ARF Co-op Policies, which function as our
by-laws. After you have familiarized yourself with the policies, if you
feel that you can abide by them, submit a membership request to the
co-op's mailing list, which is
ARFCoop-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
You will receive a subscription request
questionnaire. Complete the questionnaire and
return it, and then proceed with the rest of the membership
steps.
2. What products are available? What do they cost?
We presently have hundreds of products that we order and we're constantly on the lookout for new products to add.
We carry a full range of raw meaty bones, recreational bones, muscle meat,
organ meat, and tripe from a variety of animals. We also carry some whole
animals for people who prefer the whole-prey model of feeding. We
carry a wide selection of convenient pre-made mixes, ground bones, and
commercial raw
foods as well. Costs on our meat products sometimes vary from month to
month
according to market rates, but we have a large number of items under $1.00
a
lb. and a wide selection in the $1.00 to $3.00 per lb. range, including organic and grass-fed items. Staples
such as all-natural chicken backs, necks, and frames are $.29/lb.
3. How do I order? How do I pay?
IMPORTANT: As soon as
your membership request has been approved, enter your contact information
into the member database in the Database section of our Yahoo! Group. You
will not be able to place orders without this information on file.
Orders for individual suppliers open
on a specific date according to the ordering calendar, and you send your order to the order collector, who is usually also the site host. For orders that require pre-payment, you will send your payment to the site host. Late orders
and/or payments are not accepted. For more information on ordering, see our Policies page.
4. How do I get my order?
The delivery date and site host's location for
every order we place is listed in the Ordering Calendar. On the delivery
date, members go to pick up their food at the site host's location during
the hours that the site host is open for distribution. This distribution
time is always a minimum of two hours, and if food arrives early in the
morning, there is usually a morning and an evening pick-up time
offered.
5. What happens if I can't/don't
come
get my order on the day it is delivered?
If you know that you will be unable to make the
actual or estimated delivery date for an order, pair up with someone else
in the co-op to be your co-op buddy. Co-op buddies trade off/share pick-up
duties with each other and save time and gas. We have members all over the
Austin metropolitan area, so you should be able to find someone to assist
you. Running late, having previous social plans, or wanting to do
something else on the evening of delivery is NOT a valid reason not to
come get your food. If you have an absolute last-minute true emergency of
a medical nature, have someone call the site host that day so we are aware
of the problem.
7. I'm a supplier and I want to sell
my
product to the co-op. How do I do that?
Suppliers who are interested in selling to
the co-op are not permitted to join the co-op's mailing list directly. If
you are interested in selling your product to the co-op, please contact
the coop manager at manager@arfcoop.org. We are
always interested in learning about new suppliers, and we'll need to
know basic information about your products, pricing by the
pound or by the case, minimum ordering requirements, and delivery
method to Austin.
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