Direct From The Farm
For customers who prefer getting their fruits and vegetables from growers — or rescuing produce that farms might otherwise toss — there are a handful of delivery services laser-focused on local produce. The newest one to this area has its own unique spin.
Hungry Harvest
Hungry Harvest, which delivers weekly shares of “ugly produce” — fruits and vegetables that might be rejected by local retailers but are still perfectly edible — expanded its deliveries in our area last year and continues to grow into the suburbs. The shares are less expensive than a typical community supported agriculture (CSA) box, for those who don’t mind misshapen potatoes or small avocados. Customers can make a list of items they’d prefer not to get (which are replaced with other options) but the boxes are otherwise based on what’s available. (Avocado toast lovers, rejoice: Recovered avocados are almost always on the list, if you want them.)
The college students who founded the Columbia, Md.-based subscription service in 2014 have grown the business since being featured on the ABC reality show “Shark Tank.” Weekly or biweekly boxes of produce range from $15 for a “mini harvest” to $55 for a “super organic harvest” box. The boxes include more berries in the summer and root vegetables in the winter. They also include out-of-state products, such as avocados and lemons, that might have been rejected on their way to a grocery store, throughout the year.