Frequently Asked Questions
Short answer:
Rootstock is an weekly online farmers market.
Long answer:
Rootstock is redesigning the Bay Area's local food system by simplifying how you get organic, local produce. We're a weekly farm-to-door delivery service that works with a curated network of California farms to bring you fresh, seasonal produce straight from harvest. Most grocery store fruit is bred to survive shipping, not to taste good. We go straight to exceptional local organic farms and harvest at peak ripeness, when flavor and nutrients are at their best. It's a local win-win: shoppers get better produce, farmers get vital support.
We aim to connect exceptional local farmers with Bay Area communities, strengthen farm economics, and help people find delight, health, and agency in their fresh food choices
We order from our farm partners after you order, so farms harvest exactly what's needed instead of guessing and overproducing. That means less food waste, and produce that's in your hands within two days of picking.
We source produce at peak ripeness from farms going beyond organic, ones that take care of the soil and grow for flavor and nutrition rather than for shelf life or shipping durability. Think sun-warmed strawberries and just-picked greens, not fruit bred to survive a cross-country truck ride. Most grocery store produce is bred to survive shipping, not to taste good. Ours is grown close to home and picked at peak ripeness, so it reaches you within two days of harvest.
Yes, all of our produce is CCOF certified.
We source from a curated network of exceptional California farms, including Fifth Crow Farm, Full Belly Farm, Swanton Berry Ranch, Masumoto Family Farm, Oya Organics, Live Earth Farm, Yerena Farms, Twin Peaks Orchards, and more.
Yes, we also carry pantry goods and sometimes baked goods. Selection varies week to week.
We try to use compostable or recyclable materials whenever possible. In some cases, delicate items or freshness needs mean we can't.
We currently serve the Peninsula, including San Mateo, Foster City, Belmont, Burlingame, Hillsborough, San Carlos, Redwood City, Redwood Shores, Woodside, Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, and Los Altos.
You choose. You build your own order each week from what's available rather than getting a pre-set box.
Yes, $30.
Home delivery is a flat $10 fee, free on orders of $80 or more. Using a pickup point is always free. Private pickups (a shared drop-off with your own group) are $5 per order for 5+ customers at one address, and free for 10+.
Both happen Thursday evening. Home delivery runs 5–9pm, and Rootstock pickup points run 5–8pm.
Tuesday at 11:59pm PST for that week's Thursday delivery or pickup. You can update your order anytime before the cutoff. We recommend ordering early, since it helps us reduce food waste, gives farmers better visibility, and improves your odds of getting items before they sell out.
No. Ordering is no-commitment, week to week.
Yes, up until Tuesday at 11:59pm PST. After that, email hello@rootstock.earth and we'll do our best to accommodate it, but cancellation isn't guaranteed once the order deadline has passed.
Yes, both are available.
Because we work directly with local farms, availability can be affected by weather or harvest conditions. If we can't fulfill part of your order, we'll notify you as soon as possible and offer a refund or a comparable substitute.
All sales of fresh produce and perishable items are final, given their nature. Non-perishable items can be returned within 7 days of delivery if unused and in original packaging, with proof of purchase.
Inspect your order at pickup or delivery, then email hello@rootstock.earth as soon as possible with a brief description and photos. We'll resolve it with store credit or a refund depending on the situation.
Agricultural products change from week to week, so natural variation in size, sweetness, and appearance is expected and not a defect. We prioritize flavor, nutrition, and freshness over cosmetic perfection.
Contact hello@rootstock.earth before the pickup window closes and we'll do our best to work out an alternative, though it isn't guaranteed. Unclaimed orders without prior notice may be redistributed at our discretion and won't be refunded.
Email us at hello@rootstock.earth! :) We aim to respond to emails within 48 hours.
