A friend once said something that has stayed with me: “We should stop asking why organic produce is so expensive and start asking why conventional food is so cheap.”
Even as a Fresh Harvest employee, cost is always on my mind—it’s a reality for all of us. I want to share my candid thoughts with you—not as a Fresh Harvest employee, but as a dad with limited free time, a modest income, and less-than-stellar kitchen skills. Through that lens, here are a few reasons why I personally support Fresh Harvest and the value of local food:
Real Savings on Local, Organic Produce
If you’ve ever visited Freedom Farmers Market or any major Atlanta farmers market, take a look around and compare the vendors you see with the farmers listed on the Fresh Harvest website. Nearly all of them partner with us, filling our weekly boxes with the same produce and artisan items. The difference? Fresh Harvest is able to offer a discount by ordering in larger quantities. Farmers benefit from the stability and convenience of bulk deliveries, and we, the consumers, enjoy the savings—not to mention the convenience of home delivery and the value of local food.
Building Genuine Connections
In a society that’s becoming increasingly disconnected, I want my sons to grow up recognizing the importance of true relationships. I want them to know our farmers by name, to understand the challenges they face in providing food for our family each week, and to witness firsthand the beauty of how food is grown and its impact on life.
Valuing Small-Scale, Organic Farming
Georgia’s growing seasons can be hot, humid, and wet—conditions that make plants prone to disease, with rampant weeds and pests. It would be tempting to take the easier, conventional approach: spraying chemical herbicides and pesticides on genetically modified seeds. But our farmers choose to embrace the challenges because they envision a future where the earth is revitalized rather than ruined. Yes, it’s more difficult and costly, but it’s absolutely worth it for the value of local food.
Fresh Harvest Supports Farmers Fairly
Did you know that, on average, farmers receive only 14 cents for every dollar spent by consumers? That’s astonishing. Their work literally keeps us alive, yet many small-scale farms barely scrape by. Through our direct relationships, Fresh Harvest ensures that farmers receive roughly 50 cents for every dollar we earn—nearly four times the average. To us, reinvesting in our values and partners makes sense. It reflects the true worth of their goods and allows them to focus on sustainable, healthy growth.
The Intangibles That Matter
Fresh Harvest offers more than just groceries. We hire refugees from the local community, support food insecure families through weekly subsidized markets, host regular events at the Fresh Harvest garden, and include thoughtful extras in our weekly boxes. These are the subtle intangibles that other grocers often overlook.
We won’t outpace the big-box stores with rock-bottom prices or two-hour deliveries—but that’s not our goal. We aim to be a reliable source for people who value supporting farmers and food producers who care about their land and the communities they serve. We want the food we provide to mean something—to reflect a deeper story of doing good throughout Georgia.
