NORTH SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — A new start-up is bringing local produce and other Central New York products straight from the farm to your front door.
While the North Syracuse-based company, “Off The Muck Market” only made its first delivery in June 2018 its subscriber base is growing and product list constantly expanding.
“We’re offering a home delivery service for the same price as going to the grocery store but obviously the quality is much much higher,” said Owner & Founder Carl Chappell.
The produce is sourced from farms and vendors all across the state. On Wednesday, Chappell traveled to Amish and Mennonite communities in Geneva to get cantaloupe, tomatoes, and peaches for the week’s deliveries, but the product list is always changing.
“A lot of people don’t realize that we have homegrown peaches, homegrown nectarines, plums, melons, the fruit here for about 2-3 month window is phenomenal,” said Chappell.
Practically growing up on a “muck” farm in Canastota, Chappell said he developed a passion for agriculture. He worked there through college, but eventually got a finance degree from SUNY Oswego and ended up at the Syracuse company “SpinCar” for several years.
Drawn back to his roots, Chappell combined his experiences and created the subscription-based service. The name of his start-up literally meaning “Off the Farm.” But more farms, “Off The Muck” also includes locally roasted coffee from Utica, honey from Kirkville and cookies from Cathy’s Cookie Kitchen in downtown Syracuse.
“My years in finance gave me a great background in business but I really like being able to see what I do and really connecting the consumer to the product,” said Chappell.
Customers who sign up for “Off The Muck” online receive a weekly box in one of three sizes, costing $26.95, $34.95 or $49.95. Each week a product list determines which fresh fruit and vegetables are delivered.
Subscribers can also add or swap out locally made items during checkout; helping not only connect people to local farmers but also small businesses.
“I’m sure that we’re reaching a lot of people that we wouldn’t reach otherwise and people have called to say they are the best chocolate chip cookies they have ever had so that’s pretty exciting,” said Cathy Pemberton, Owner of Cathy’s Cookie Kitchen.
Chappell said while the current “Off The Muck Market” operation is small he expects the company to grow beyond their current space in North Syracuse very soon.
If you’d like to learn more about “Off The Muck Market” or subscribe to weekly deliveries click here.
