For 72 years, Talley Farms has been proudly growing fruit and vegetables. What began when Oliver Talley started to grow produce in the Arroyo Grande Valley, has become a company that exceeds the expectations of many around the United States. Four generations later, they cover over 1,500 acres of California and grow 40 different crops.
Talley Farms uses a specific process to get fresh vegetables around the U.S. First, you have to choose your box, there are two options: the Original and the Junior. The Original box contains a larger selection of fruits and vegetables, has the capability of feeding 2-5 people, and holds 9-12 fruits and vegetables, whereas the Junior box consists of 5-8 vegetables and can feed an individual or a couple. Next, determine where you will receive your box. There are options to have everything delivered to you, or pick up the box at 70 specified locations from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara. Lastly, designate how often you wish to receive your box, you can choose between weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
Depending on which box and pick-up method you choose, the price will range from $25 to $45. For more information, visit their website talleyfarmsfreshharvest.com, or call (805) 489.5401.
On March 16, Talley Farms experienced a sudden increase in demand as individuals became more concerned about eating healthy, fresh, local produce once the stay at home order began. The manager says their sales have tripled from their delivery program, while their wholesale team continues to stay busy. When we checked back in with Talley Farms in August, Talley Farms reported their sales continue to be doubled in size compared to before the pandemic.
In response to the high demand, they hired another person to work in their office to meet the needs of the community, meaning they now have over 30 staff members. They are also taking many safety precautions in an effort to keep everyone safe, such as ensuring employees wear hair nets, gloves, masks, plastic sleeves and aprons, stay six feet apart while working, and receive temperature checks twice daily.
With unemployment on the rise and the demand for fresh produce greater now than ever before, Talley Farms has stepped up to meet the needs of the community during this time. They have been donating boxes to cleaning personnel at Santa Maria and Arroyo Grande hospitals, and continue to donate to the food bank as well. The manager says they predict the need will be greater in the fall and winter and will continue to support the community.
Talley Farms offers both pick up and delivery options. Before the stay-at-home order, the farm was delivering only one day per week, now they have increased this to 4 days a week. Most of the pick-up locations, which included many athletic clubs and gyms, are now closed; meanwhile, the ones that remain open have been extremely busy. However, this has created another complication due to how many people are coming to pick up their box at one time and increasing congestion. In addition to this, with higher demand, Talley is now using three trucks to ship the boxes which stays at one location for a longer period of time. This allows the majority of boxes to stay in the refrigerated truck while people come to pick them up until there is a much smaller amount of boxes and are able to be easily transported inside.
Talley Farms grows many fruits and vegetables every season; we highly encourage you to visit their website to see what’s fresh every season. With fall just around the corner, Talley Farms' boxes will be featuring:
Apples from See Canyon and Cuyama
Avocados,
Grapes
Shishito Peppers
Sweet Peppers
Green Beans
Heirloom Tomatoes
Green Bell Peppers (shipped all over the country)
When we spoke with Andrea, the manager, she mentioned that she enjoys roasting their vegetables on the barbecue, then seasoning them with some spices, creating a delicious side dish. Talley Farms has greatly supported the community and encouraged so many people to eat healthy, nutritious, and delicious food. This is the perfect time to try out their service! Let us know what you think by sending us a message!
Stay well,
Talia & Emily