Fresh Harvest Helping Support Local Agriculture
ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. – Since June 2012, Talley Farms has been thinking “inside the box” as a way to provide farm-fresh produce to residents of the Central Coast. The Arroyo Grande-based business created a subscription program called “Fresh Harvest,” which allows customers to pick up boxes of fresh, locally grown produce on a regular basis at dozen of different locations.
“It’s a local program of local produce for local people,” said Fresh Harvest Manager, Andrea Chavez. “We are growing a lot of fresh produce items for the Fresh Harvest boxes and they go out to local people on the Central Coast.”
Through Fresh Harvest, customers are able to purchase fresh, nutritious produce directly from the source, most of which are farms located in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
“We harvest the day before produce goes in the boxes and then those boxes are packed and delivered the same day,” said Chavez.
Chavez adds customers benefit tremendously when they’re able to take home produce so quickly after it’s been harvested.
“Taste and freshness go together,” said Chavez. “The fresher the produce, the better it tastes and the more nutrition it has.”
Boxes contain up to a dozen different fruits and vegetables, which change frequently depending on the season.
“It’s great. You open up the box and it’s like a Pandora’s Box, it’s like what’s inside and you see all the goodness,” said Pismo Beach resident Alexandra Mourning.
While Talley Farms operates Fresh Harvest, produce included in the boxes does not come exclusively from the 67-year old business.
“We support other local farmers that are growing produce items, so that we can have a box that’s well rounded,” said Chavez.
Among the local farms Talley purchases produce from is Hunt Family Farm, which is located just outside Los Osos.
“We grow blackberries, we are a small production farm, five acres and it’s a family operation,” said Hunt Family Farm owner Marcus Hunt.
Hunt says 80% of his blackberries is bought by Talley Farms for Fresh Harvest. He adds the program has given him the ability to expand his operation, and is allowing him to sell to other outlets.
“We were able to get into Whole Foods, and also it helped me get into the local grocers, like Cookie Crock and Spencer’s and also some high end restaurants,” said Hunt.
According to Talley Farms, its Fresh Harvest program offers several benefits to consumers including, supporting the farm directly, eliminating the middle man, reducing packaging and carbon footprint, and supporting other local businesses.
For more information, visit: talleyfarmsfreshharvest.com
