Piedmont Fresh offers local produce and products for pick up
In the midst of growing grocery pick up services, Piedmont Fresh is making it easier for folks to order their favorite seasonal local produce, pasture-raised meats and artisan favorites.
Piedmont Fresh is an initiative of the Davidson County Local Food Network.
The platform is open for ordering from Friday to Monday. Consumers can order what is available. When the platform closes, farmers and food artisans are notified and they begin harvesting or baking. By Thursday, customer orders are ready for pick up.
In the landscape of door delivery in the United States, food and beverage retail e-commerce revenue will exceed 20 billion U.S. dollars in 2021 and is expected to surpass the 24 billion thresholds by 2023. The online grocery customer base accounts for roughly 150 million shoppers and is forecast to grow further in the upcoming years. The initiative makes progress towards this change in shopping patterns.
Currently, Piedmont Fresh is offering a promotion with each subscription in that they will match 10 percent. Choose any subscription amount ($50-$500) and they will match 10 percent of your subscription. For example, a $500 subscription + 10% match ($50) = $550 to spend on local goods.
According to organizer, Grace Kanoy, the delivery service offers the convenience of pick up services as well as supporting the local food ecosystem.
“This idea has been many years in the making. We have traveled to seven food hubs over the last few years learning and talking to them about how and why they started, what challenges they faced and how they have had to adapt to make their food hubs sustainable,” Kanoy wrote in a statement to Davidson Local. “Each one is unique and has adapted to the needs of their community. We have borrowed ideas from them and are working to make sure Piedmont Fresh is adapted to the needs of our community. As well, farmers have been asking about a food hub much like the one in Boone, High Country Food Hub for many years.”
Davidson County and residents across the triad can choose from a product list each Monday by 11:59 p.m. Vendor farms, nurseries and food artisans that are located within a 100-mile radius of the food hub (Thomasville, NC) work to fulfill orders. According to the website, “value-added products offered on our site use local ingredients where possible.”
Options are plentiful. Seasonal options include Arugula, Rainbow Carrots, Chard, Collard greens, Garlic, Ginger, Kale, Okra, Italian Peppers, Jalapeno Peppers, Poblano Peppers, Shishito Peppers, Tomatoes, Squash, Bacon, Beef Bratwurst, Beef Liver, Beef Burger Patties, Flank Steak, Ground Beef, Boston Butt, Brisket, Chicken Leg/Thighs, Whole Chickens, Chicken Wings, Fillet, Flat Iron Steak, Sausage, Pork Chops, Ribs, Spices and freshly baked bread.
Piedmont fresh offers regular selections from some of your favorite artisans and Farmers Market producers such as Garden Window Farm, Klymer Ridge Farm and Homestead, Rabble and Rise Baking Company, Rierson Farms NC, Crossings Farm, BN Acres, H&H Farm.
“We have found many people cannot make Saturday markets whether it is because of work, or for many families, their children play sports Saturday morning. We now have an option to offer seasonal items year-round,” Kanoy noted. “Because the system is harvest-to-order, farmers will experience less food waste and have a stable market where they know their items will be purchased.”
For value-added food products, ingredients must be sourced locally where possible. For example, if a baker is selling blueberry muffins, those blueberries need to be sourced locally. Right now, farmers must be located within a 100-mile radius of the food hub in Thomasville.
Kanoy offered thanks for a wealth of local support. “We are very grateful to Greater Vision Outreach Ministry, our partner in this venture. They have offered their cold storage, which allows us to pursue this initiative.”
Piedmont Fresh is growing so they encourage consumers to visit its website weekly to discover new product offerings. The group also hosts an email list to be the first to know about exciting new products and seasonal arrivals.
Piedmont Fresh is looking for new producers. Apply to be a vendor or submit an inquiry if interested in selling through Piedmont Fresh.
Piedmont Fresh brings locally grown and produced food to consumers in a cost-effective manner on a weekly basis. Piedmont Fresh makes it possible for farmers to work together, scale their farms responsibly and meet the growing demand for local, sustainable food in the Piedmont area. Piedmont Fresh is a program of Davidson County Local Food Network.
Kanoy concluded, “Farmers markets and Piedmont Fresh - all these avenues are designed to improve and build our local food system, to be able to provide the most nutritious food to our community, for everyone.”
