The Produce Box

At TPB, our conviction is to BUY LOCAL FIRST, above all else. We advocate for supporting our NC farm-partners, and every week, we choose to buy from our neighbors, rather than ship products from California or other countries, organic or not. We are transparent about our farmers' practices, and leave it up to our members to determine their value system as it relates to buying organic, pesticide free, local, etc.  Here's a quick run-down of several farming methods and classifications you may see at farmers' markets, grocery stores and on our weekly menu as well. We identify these growing methods if they are applicable on the website ordering page:  ORGANIC:  This certification prohibits the use of chemical fertilizers, various synthetic substances, irradiation, sewage sludge, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in organic production.  It also prohibits antibiotic and synthetic hormone use in organic meat and poultry, requires 100% organic feed for organic

We're so proud to partner with the 10% Campaign -- a statewide initiative led by the Center for Environmental Farming Systems and NC Cooperative Extension promoting locally grown food, farmers and the businesses and people who grow, prepare, distribute and sell food in NC.  The campaign's goal is to encourage individuals, restaurants, retailers, universities, and schools to commit 10% of their existing food dollars to locally produced foods. As a member of The Produce Box -- this is NO PROBLEM! You have so many choices for local, fresh, delicious food each week. And did you know? North Carolinians spend  about $35 billion a year on food. If individuals spent 10% or just $1.05 per day locally, about $3.5 billion would be available in the local economy! How YOU can join: The Campaign works as an interactive webpage & personalized data tracking system for local foods. Step 1: Join the Campaign at www.nc10percent.com Step 2: Use the Campaign’s searc

The crops of the fall season are usually not quite as exciting to most of us as those we get in the spring and summer.  BUT, the health benefits of these wonderful items will take you far in helping ward off colds and other illnesses.  Take a good look at how beneficial these crops are for you! Broccoli is rich in Vitamin C to help fight off colds and helps fight high blood pressure. Cauliflower is also rich is Vitamin C, has a powerful impact on our detoxification system and is a super source of potassium which helps keep your heart beat regular.  Cabbage has cholesterol lowering benefits when it is steamed!  Savoy cabbage, in particular, has received attention in cancer prevention research. Romaine lettuce has Vitamin C and beta carotene to make it heart healthy and it’s Folic Acid helps to protect against heart attack and stroke.  Lettuces can help with INSOMNIA! The white fluid that you see when you break lettuce leaves is called lactucarium. This has relaxati