For Buyers
What is Genesis?
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Genesis is a community trust platform for local food. We help you discover who makes your food, read honest reviews from real people, and find local makers and craftspeople near you, whether they sell at farmers markets, farm stands, or right from their property. Search by name on our site, or scan a QR code at a market booth to pull up a local maker's profile instantly.
Is it free to use?
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Yes. Free for buyers, free for makers. No fees, no subscriptions, no premium tiers. Makers and buyers will never be charged to use Genesis.
Do I need to create an account?
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No. There are no accounts, no logins, no passwords. Browse maker profiles, read reviews, and leave your own. No signup required. We keep it simple on purpose.
Are the reviews real?
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Yes. Every review uses your real first name, not anonymous usernames. This is a community platform, which means your neighbors can see who's leaving reviews. That social accountability keeps things honest. We're a small project right now, and that smallness is actually a strength. In a community this size, fake reviews don't last long.
Is the QR code safe to scan?
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Yes. A Genesis QR code is just a link to that maker's profile on our site. It opens in your normal browser, doesn't download anything, doesn't ask for personal info. You can also just type the URL printed underneath the code if you'd rather not scan.
How do I leave a review?
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Find the maker on genesislocal.org. Search by name or scan their QR code at the market. Tap their profile, hit "Leave a Review," pick a star rating, and tell people what you bought and what you thought. Takes about 60 seconds. No account needed.
Who's behind Genesis?
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Genesis was built by real people who got tired of the industrial food system. We're not a startup chasing venture capital. We're a small team that believes your local farmer deserves to be found by their neighbors. No ads, no paid placements, no premium tiers. Just a platform that does one thing well.
How are makers vetted?
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Makers are added by the community — either by the maker themselves or by someone who knows them. Every maker agrees to our one rule: the person selling it is the person who made it. The community self-governs through reviews, community notes, and flagging. If something doesn't add up, the community catches it.
What if I have a problem with something I bought?
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Genesis is a review and discovery platform, not a marketplace. We don't handle transactions or deliveries. If you have an issue, talk directly to the maker — that's the beauty of buying local. You can also leave an honest review or flag a listing if something seems off. We take community reports seriously.