About Rootly
Our Story
Rootly started on a small homestead in Michigan. The founder, Evan, had a problem that every small food producer knows: growing the food was the easy part — getting it to the people who wanted it was the real challenge.
Eggs were stacking up in the kitchen. Neighbors kept asking where they could buy fresh, local food. The farmers market was great, but it was only one day a week and required hours of setup. Facebook groups were chaotic. And the big online platforms were designed for shipping, not for the farmer down the road selling eggs by the dozen.
So Evan built Rootly — a marketplace where any farmer, baker, beekeeper, or food maker can set up a store in minutes and connect with buyers in their neighborhood. No shipping logistics. No warehouses. No middlemen. Just a direct line between the person who grew it and the person who wants to eat it.
Our Mission
We believe every community deserves easy access to fresh, local food — and every small food producer deserves a fair, simple way to reach their customers.
Rootly exists to make local food commerce as easy as ordering from any online store, while keeping the personal connection that makes buying from a neighbor special. We're starting in Michigan because it's home, but the vision is bigger: every community in America has local food producers who deserve a better way to sell.
Our Values
Sellers keep what they earn
We charge sellers a flat monthly subscription — not a commission on every sale. Your prices stay yours. Buyers pay a small service fee at checkout that keeps the platform running.
Built for pickup, not shipping
Local food should stay local. We handle scheduling, directions, and reminders so pickup is seamless for both sides. No cold chains, no packaging waste, no delivery fees.
Trust through transparency
Our seller verification system builds buyer confidence without creating barriers for producers. If you sell regulated products like meat or dairy, we help you stay compliant. If you sell vegetables or baked goods, you can start today.
Community first
Every feature we build is measured against one question: does this strengthen the connection between local food producers and the people who want to buy from them?
The Team
Rootly is built and operated by Evan — a Michigan homesteader, software engineer, and the person who answers your support emails. This is a one-person operation with a big vision: to make local food accessible to everyone.
Have questions, feedback, or just want to say hi? Reach out at support@rootlymarket.com.