The Produce Box

More info from Joe Van Gogh on this term and what it means for TPB members  Earlier in the summer, we introduced you to the folks at Joe Van Gogh, one of our favorite North Carolina coffee roaster! You'll find different varieties of their coffee on our menu throughout the year. Now we want to share more about the work they do with coffee growers all over the world. We have told you that Joe Van Gogh helps farmers by participating in direct trade . You might be wondering what that is.  You’ve probably heard of fair trade, and maybe even seen it at your local grocery store. In recent years, there’s been a big divide in the fair trade world, and what resulted from the divide was “Fair Trade USA” and “Fair Trade International”.  Direct Trade is another result of this split. Roasters realized that to be fair trade certified, farmers had to pay. This hurts small farmers who can’t pay for the certification. So, coffee-lovers and...

One of the many non-profits we have a relationship with is the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC. They serve a huge area (34 counties!) and The Produce Box donates several pallets of fresh produce each week which the Food Bank makes available to the individuals and families served by its community partners. Jennifer Caslin, the Communications Supervisor for the Food Bank, shares how our partnership started, “The relationship began when one of the TPB team members noticed that there was extra produce going to waste each week and wanted to find a solution. He called and we chatted about the great things The Produce Box was doing and we started picking up extra produce 1-2 times a week. It has been a great partnership ever since!" "In fiscal year 2015-2016, our donors [like The Produce Box] enabled the Food Bank to distribute more than 22 million pounds of produce." The Food Bank helps satisfy a serious need in our area. Jennifer says, “Hunger is a very...

Did you hear that microgreens are the newly announced member of the superfood family? Since these adorable, tiny veggies are fresh on the radar, we’re working with Sweet Peas Urban Gardens, our local Raleigh, North Carolina microgreens grower, to offer a chance to try microgreens, sprinkled with loads of recipe ideas. Click on over to The Produce Box on Facebook and learn how to enter our giveaway contest for a chance to win one, two or even three complimentary deliveries of these nutrient dense and seriously flavorful micro plants. The list of culinary creations you can make with microgreens is endless, you’ll see! OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES: 1. To enter for a chance to win a Sweet Peas Urban Gardens' microgreens sampler delivered through The Produce Box, Facebook account holders must comment on The Produce Box's contest Facebook post with an appropriate response to the prompt provided. To enter for a chance to win two deliveries of Sweet Peas Urban Gardens...

TPB Members donate fresh, healthy food for families in need In North Carolina, over 850,000 children qualify to receive free or reduced lunch in the public school system. But what about those long summer months when they’re not in school? Unfortunately, many kids face hunger and food insecurity during this time. Camp High Hopes, a fully subsidized seven-week YMCA camp where kids participate in athletic and educational activities, offers a solution. This summer, 1240+ students from 765 families are attending Camp High Hopes in the Triangle area. And with the help of our members, The Produce Box is donating $80,000 worth of produce to these families.  Every other week the kids are taking home Boxes full of fresh produce for their families! “The Produce Box and the YMCA want to make it easy for campers and their families to eat more fruits and veggies in the summer,” said Susan Pettengill, vice president of Healthy Living for YM...