Dear Members,
First off, in regards to our setback around the new distribution center, we have fully transitioned our operations to our original facility while we work through the details to get our new space back open. Huge kudos to the fulfillment team here for making a very stressful transition look easy; by the end of last week we were more organized than ever. This work is setting us up for our move back into the new space and for continued growth in the future. And thank you for your support during this time: your kind words (and your orders!) have kept us going through the very difficult work of building a local food economy in our region.
Through this entire setback, one thing has become apparent –a Harvie box is more than a box of groceries – it is the connections built in our community.
It is our job to foster those connections between producers and you. It is our job to give you a sense of the impact you are having on producers’ lives and our local food economy each and every week. I realize that I’ve had a blind spot in this work: I’ve spent my whole life living on farms, working on farms, and experiencing first hand how food is grown. However, this is not an experience that all of you have had. Food tastes better once you meet the farmers, meet the producers, and talk to the chefs. Grocery shopping becomes more meaningful when you hear the story and work behind each cucumber. I want to bring that experience to you. It is so important to see how your Harvie box connects to the food community in our region.
So, starting now, it is our goal to get every Harvie Green member to visit a farm or a producer by the end of the year.
Our first two events are scheduled in August: a seasonal happy hour meal with Chef Curtis at Station (one of our pop-up partners) in Bloomfield as well as a pasta making class at Forma Pasta in Sewickley. Find all of our events here. Later in September, we’ll have a harvest fest at Clarion River Organics. We also have events in the works with Goat Rodeo, Mighty Small Farm, and more.
There are hundreds of stories I want to tell you each week in the Harvie shop and I look forward to introducing you to these stories in person over the next few months!
– Simon Huntley
CEO, Harvie