“RI Tech and Innovation Report” - Crave Food Systems Tests WhatsGood App in RI

“RI Tech and Innovation Report” - Crave Food Systems Tests WhatsGood App in RI

First came Rhode Island, then Massachusetts.

While that’s not true when it comes to the order of statehood, Rhode Island has, in this columnist’s opinion, long been ahead of the curve for disruption and innovation that makes life better for those who choose to call it home.

Matt Tortora, co-founder and CEO of Crave Food Systems, thinks so, too.

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That’s why he chose his chosen home state to test a new service of his company’s WhatsGood app that allows consumers to purchase foods from local farms and other vendors, and have them delivered to their home or, in some cases, their workplace.

The test phase of this virtual farmer’s market went well and the app launched in Boston last month, which could put Rhode Island vendors into the homes and minds of a much wider audience.

“We’re excited. Boston is a great town and a great foodie town,” Tortora told GoLocalProv. “Rhode Island was always meant to be where we would test things. In Rhode Island, you have a better response time, you hear things quicker, you get feedback faster. And, we can utilize resources in Rhode Island work on things in Boston.”

The Boston debut—the app was in beta mode during testing—is great news for this five-year-old startup that Tortora started to directly connect farmers to restaurants.

Talking about seeing his idea to come to fruition—and in a big way in a short amount of time—Tortora likens realizing he’s actually doing what he wanted to and doing it well to how an actor might feel while accepting an Academy Award.

“It’s been really one of those moments that’s an ‘ah-ha!’ lightbulb moment,” he said. “It’s not come without challenges, but it’s been one of those things where you get moment and it’s been working really well for us.”

Here’s how it works. And, yes, it’s still available to Rhode Islanders.

Once registered on the app, consumers can see if their home address is available for delivery or if they will be directed to a choice of delivery pick-up sites. (In Boston, it’s a four-mile radius around the Fenway Park zip code for now). Then, they can choose to shop from a variety of local vendors available in a two-hour drive from them. Pickup or delivery days depend on a user’s address or desired pickup spot.

Currently, just under 100 Rhode Island vendors are WhatsGood partners, and the numbers of active vendors fluctuate with the seasons. Vendors also come from all over New England, utilizing the two-hour-drive time model.

Tartora said WhatsGood will be available soon to more Bostonians and in the Washington, D.C.-Virginia metro area by early August. After that, it’s onto Los Angeles in the fall.

“What’s most important to me is what I’ve learned about the consumer and how much they believe in supporting food producers in their community,” he said. “The change has been swift for them to consider how impactful that is. It’s pretty cool, and it gives you hope.”