diff --git a/backend/CONTRIBUTING.md b/backend/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 29edbd34..6c6dac1c 100644
--- a/backend/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/backend/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ _(make sure you already have a [Vercel](https://vercel.com/) account)_
 3.  Run `npm install` in the repository root.
 4.  Run the command `vercel` in the root and follow the steps there.
 5.  Run the command `vercel dev` to start a development server at <http://localhost:3000>.
-6.  The cards will then be available from this local endpoint (i.e. `http://localhost:3000/api?username=anuraghazra`).
+6.  Create a `.env` file in the root and add the following line `NODE_ENV=development`, this will disable caching for local development.
+7.  The cards will then be available from this local endpoint (i.e. `http://localhost:3000/api?username=anuraghazra`).
 
 > [!NOTE]\
 > You can debug the package code in [Vscode](https://code.visualstudio.com/) by using the [Node.js: Attach to process](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/nodejs/nodejs-debugging#_setting-up-an-attach-configuration) debug option. You can also debug any tests using the [VSCode Jest extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Orta.vscode-jest). For more information, see https://github.com/jest-community/vscode-jest/issues/912.