Arroyo Grande -- A Central Coast grower and winemaker is expanding
its business and selling directly to local consumers. The new Fresh Harvest fruit
and vegetable program is creating jobs and helping the local economy.
Talley vineyards and farms is launching the fresh harvest
boxes next week and already the program is halfway to its goal. Talley farms, a
family business has been growing fruits and vegetables in the Arroyo Grande Valley
for more than 60 years. Talley sells most of its produce on the wholesale
market, but now is offering farm fresh produce directly to people here on the
central coast.
President of Talley Farms, Brian Talley, says, "We live in
one of the most special places in the whole world for really fantastic produce
and yet if you eat produce in a local store chances are its come from somewhere
else or it went off somewhere and came back with this program you able to get
it direct from us very very fresh."
Cutting out the middleman and eliminating the time produce
sits in cold storage means consumers get locally grown goods, fresher and faster.
Also, Talley says, buying from a local grower means your dollars stay in the
local economy, "Selling direct to consumers is a more efficient model. Folks have the opportunity to
keep their money in the local economy and which means we can employ more people
here."
The fresh harvest boxes also means a half-dozen new jobs at
Talley Farms, and they will be hiring as the program grows. About 250 customers are already signed
up. The official launch is September first. Talley hopes to grow to 500 weekly
customers. The fresh produce boxes cost 24 dollars a week. They are available
for pick up at Miners and farm supply locations.
