With Earth Hour 2009 now under our belts and Earth Day 2009 closely approaching on April 22nd, you may be wondering what more you can do to decrease the carbon footprint you leave behind. Let’s try some food for thought.
Here in the Land of Lincoln and plentiful Midwest farming, there is a really great service available that some of us haven’t been aware of. Many of us may think of our groceries as a trip to the store. But what if you can’t make it to the store as a busy mom or professional? What if the nearby conventional stores just don’t have the healthier organic food options you’re looking for and Whole Foods has become unaffordable? What are your options for local organic food delivery?
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the majority of produce in the United States travels an average of 1,500 miles before it gets sold (and that’s not even considering how far produce from around the world must travel to get to us.) When we’re at the store, do we consider the global warming pollution that is released into the air through all that traveling? And what about the health risks of eating produce susceptible to chemicals through conventional farming?
Two great companies in the western suburbs of Chicago are here to make accessibility to local organic food easier for you. And it isn’t just about the convenience. By supporting these companies, you are making a conscious choice to support your local farms, keep business flourishing in your community, keep your produce fresh, and avoid harmful chemicals used in conventional farming.
Our first look is Natural Direct LLC, www.naturaldirect.com, located in nearby Oswego, IL. Natural Direct was established in 2005. Owner Scott Dickinson said the idea for the company was based on a desire to help bridge the gap of local farmers’ produce to the outlying communities after having moved out to an outlying suburb and finding it difficult to get access to the local products he desired. With a background in Distribution and Transportation and the passion for accessibility, Dickinson has been able to successfully make that happen in many communities across Illinois for over 3 years now.
“Supporting local businesses strengthens our local economy. What could be more important than keeping our food supply local? Do we really want to outsource this as well?” (Dickinson)
Natural Direct offers a variety of fresh individual organic produce and produce boxes. Although only a handful of produce in Illinois is in-season at the moment, the company still offers a variety of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) certified organic fruits and vegetables- in addition to organic produce from Canada, Mexico, and South America- to satisfy our current produce needs here in the Midwest during ‘off-seasons.
Aside from the ready-to-order organic fruit and vegetable boxes, which are priced at either $40 or $50 depending on which variety you choose, they also have affordably priced individual organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Natural Direct also carries a variety of other organic foods from local farms. Their dairy selection includes organic products from Wisconsin farms, ranging in price from $2.99 to $6.49, and including eggs, milk, half & half, cream and seasonal organic raw cheese. The meats and fish products include everything from organic beef & bison, poultry, pork, a variety of ‘wild-caught’ fish, deli meat, and meat alternatives. The grass-fed beef comes from local farms in Illinois and Wisconsin and ranges in price from $5.59 for 1 lb. of grass-fed ground beef to $23.05 for about 3.6 lbs. of grass-fed beef sirloin tip roast.
In addition, Natural Direct also has a variety of packaged organic foods to choose from- including baked goods, baby and toddler items, baking supplies, beverages, cereals, condiments, grains, pasta, snacks, soups, and frozen goods, not to mention a section containing all gluten-free products! You can literally take care of most, if not all, of your grocery shopping needs in one convenient stop at www.naturaldirect.com.
My first purchase with Natural Direct contained a variety of fresh, packaged, organic foods. The shopping online was a breeze, the customer service prompt and courteous, and the delivery right on time to my front door! As a busy mom who appreciates the convenience, the organic food variety, and believes in supporting our local community, this service is a greatly needed option! I look forward to ordering their fresh produce boxes as more produce becomes in-season here in the Midwest.
Our second look is Timber Creek Farms Organics, www.tcforganics.net, located in nearby Yorkville, IL. Timber Creek Farms Organics has been providing local USDA certified organic food delivery service within a 100 mile radius of Yorkville, IL since 1988.
At Timber Creek Farms Organics you also have the option of ordering fresh organic fruit and vegetable boxes that range in price from $30.85 to $49.14. You can pick the pre-selected boxes or pick and choose exactly which fruits and vegetables you want in your box, with a minimum order of $23.85 in produce for a completely custom box. Timber Creek Farms Organics does suggest that by allowing them to pre-select the items in your box based on availability, seasonality, and price, you not only get the freshest produce, but also more bang for your buck.
David T., Oswego, IL resident and Timber Creek Farms Organics customer, had this to say about the service, “It’s easy to spend $30 on chips, snacks, and junk food, so having a box of fresh and organic fruits and vegetables delivered to the house for about $30 is invaluable to my family, and to my dietary needs as a diabetic.
David and his family have been using Timber Creek Farms Organics delivery service for 1 ½ years and says they enjoy the variation in fruits and vegetables every 2 week and the great recipes that come along with the boxes, which help keep their meals fun and interesting.
New moms may be interested in considering 2 of Timber Creek Farms Organics specialty boxes- Makin’ Baby’s Food and Nursing Box– both loaded with all the exceptional nutrition from the best fruits and vegetables available to mom and baby. Check out their site (www.tcforganics.net) for more information on all their specialty boxes especially designed for the cook, athlete, dieter, child, health-conscious, and so much more.
Timber Creek Farms Organics also carries a variety of dairy products from nearby Wisconsin farms ranging from $0.49 for a half pint of milk to $7.69 for a half-gallon of whipping cream. They also carry a wide variety of meat and fish and other organic goods- including bakery products, snacks, spreads, and beverages.
The Timber Creek Farms Organics website also has a section on how to get free shipping, recipes, and a chart that shows what produce will be in-season in the Midwest and when.
As summertime approaches, local organic foods will become more accessible through Aurora’s 96th Annual Farmer’s Markets beginning June 20th through October 3rd.
For further information on the companies featured here please visit their websites:
Natural Direct LLC www.naturaldirect.com
Timber Creek Farms Organics www.tcforganics.net
Sources:
Earth Day Network, http://www.earthday.net/
The Natural Resources Defense Council, http://www.nrdc.org/health/foodmiles/default.asp, http://www.nrdc.org/
City of Aurora, IL, http://www.aurora-il.org/specialevents/events/farmersmarket.php, http://www.aurora-il.org/
Also:
Scott Dickinson- Owner, Natural Direct LLC
David T. – Oswego Resident and Timber Creek Farms Organics Customer
http://www.tcforganics.net/
