Amidst the chaos of COVID, it’s no secret that consumers are looking for options that keep them out of the grocery store and safe at home. Trent Thompson from Green Gardens & Bridgett Blough of The Organic Gypsy have partnered up to offer Kalamazoo consumers not only locally sourced CSA style food boxes, but also pre-made nutritious meals the whole family can enjoy.
By revamping the typical CSA style food box and creating a web-based store for all things local, Blough came up with the perfect remedy. Through the Green Gardens Green Box program, Blough offers a series of locally produced items from surrounding farmers (including his own farm!), including eggs, meat, baked goods, and everything in between. Each week, customers can log on, choose exactly what they want, and retrieve their box from the pick up point closest to them. Customers can also opt for the “Farmer’s Pick Box”, which is filled based on what is fresh and available that week.
In addition to these local items, customers can purchase ready-made locally sourced meals from the Organic Gypsy. Starting as an all organic & locally sourced food truck and catering business, the Organic Gypsy adapted to reach customers in a different way. Weekly meals in the Green Boxes range from zucchini pad thai to stuffed peppers, and feature both vegan and gluten free options so meals meet the needs of any consumer. Additionally, Bridgette and her team have a meal delivery program that delivers ready-made dinners right to your doorstep. With similar meal options to those provided in the Green Box, all meals are fresh, locally sourced, and delicious. These dinner options are also more customizable than those offered in the Green Box–her team works with their customers to make sure they’re getting dinners their whole family will love!
Both Bridgette & Trent foresee growth in this newfound era of no contact convenience. In 2019, only 330 typical CSA style Green Box memberships sold, but the program has doubled in size since taking this new approach. Similarly, the Organic Gypsy has begun a new exploration on ways to provide both convenience and health to her customers, made easier by this partnership with Trent’s Green Boxes. Blough hopes to expand past Green Boxes to provide these healthy meal options in other places like schools, specialty stores, and more!
If you live in the Kalamazoo area and are interested in signing up for a Green Box, click here. If you’re looking for fresh & local ready-made meals that can be delivered right to your doorstep, check out Organic Gypsy here.
Lauren Barnhardt is the former SW Michigan Local Food Coordinator for Taste the Local Difference.