Eamon Kalafchi, a partner in the Frisco restaurant Biscuit, helped start Fresh Harvest Produce Delivery on April 17. He joins the management teams from Barbec’s in Dallas and the Starwood Café on Craig Drive in McKinney. The service offers large boxes of fruit, vegetables or a mixture of the two for a flat fee of $40 including delivery.
Demand for the service is increasing rapidly, Kalafchi said. He has already received requests for deliveries in other cities, such as Murphy, Prosper, Celina, Fairview and The Colony.
“We're just growing so fast right now that it's worthwhile to make deliveries to all these places," he said.
Kalafchi said he and his partners are working with a produce distribution company in Dallas to get the fruits and vegetables. Deliveries are made by staff members from the restaurants either the same day orders are placed or the following day. The founders are considering continuing the service after the pandemic ends due to its growth and the response it has received.
“We're providing produce to people who don't want to come out to avoid exposure and follow work-from-home rules, but at the same time, I think some people enjoy the convenience of having produce delivered,” Kalafchi said. “Our price is actually pretty close to grocers, and if you were to factor in a delivery cost, it still comes out to be pretty competitive. I think that's why people are pretty happy about it.”
The business’ website states the boxes feed four to six people. Kalafchi said the produce included is based on what is in season and that there are not any options to customize the box beyond the all-fruit, all-vegetables or mixed options.
“I think people are kind of surprised with the amount of produce they get for the amount of money they’re spending,” Kalafchi said. “We try to give people variety, [but] we’re still kind of learning what people like and don’t like.”
For those who are struggling from being furloughed or laid off from a job, Kalafchi said the business has added a “Give” tab on its website that allows people to gift a produce box to a family in need.
“We've had people reach out and say, ‘Hey, can you a spare box?’” Kalafchi said. “We can do that just because people are supporting our business model right now, and we're getting fruits at a pretty good price, so we're able to spare some whenever we can.”
