To Everything There Is a Season…
Here at Grindstone Farm we are looking at the next season with some excitement and some angst. As an organic forerunner and among the first handful of farms to be Certified Organic in NY State back in 1988 (and the very first in Oswego County), we have seen and experienced much in the over 40+ years of farming the fields of Grindstone in Pulaski. While our initial challenge was to convince consumers of the value of local organic fruits and vegetables in those early days, there is tremendous awareness now. Of late our challenges, numerous and weighty, have come from different directions. The winds of change are blowing strongly in this season of our organic growing history.
Your farmers are getting older and need to lighten their load. We have found our newest challenges lie in the battleground between fuel costs, labor costs and the high number of competitive food delivery businesses that popped up since COVID. We have been delivering organic food to homes all over Central and Northern NY for over 20 years, our numbers are becoming less sustainable and it’s time to redirect.
We are forging a wonderful partnership with a company who can do just that and more! Our customers can still get our locally grown organic products – fruits, vegetables, meats – delivered right to their homes.
Off The Muck Market, located in Canastota and started in 2018, is committed to providing convenient year-round delivery of the widest variety of fresh, local produce. By partnering with Grindstone Farm, Off The Muck Market will benefit to now include a diversified certified organic locally grown line to complement their current products. Grindstone will continue to grow food and curate organic product availability weekly from our network of local farms for Off The Muck Market. We will also benefit through exposure to their expansive markets not only in Central and Northern NY but also Albany and Rochester. That coupled with Off The Muck Market’s capability to pack and deliver for Grindstone makes for a good business arrangement. They have a great reputation, proven streamlined systems, responsible customer service and we are confident that our customers will be happy with them.
How will this impact Grindstone customers? For the next few weeks everything will remain the same, you will continue to order through our website. We will be providing a link from our page to the order platform for OffTheMuck.com where you can access their organic line. Your delivery day may change as their routes run Tuesdays through Fridays. Grindstone customers can also expect an email contact from Off The Muck Market with more information.
Organic Products : Our customers enjoy a variety of pre-designed Best Boxes from Grindstone. You will have a selection of pre-priced organic food boxes from Off The Muck Market. You will be able to customize your box similarly to what you have experienced with Grindstone.
Pricing: Off The Muck Market will also offer current Grindstone customers a $15 credit incentive off their first box! We do not anticipate that customers will be paying any more than what they have been paying for food boxes. Due to the price of fuel, Off The Muck Market has temporarily assessed a small fuel surcharge to deliveries until prices go back down. If you have a credit balance with Grindstone, we will work with you to ensure the funds are directed where you wish.
When will this happen? We anticipate that Grindstone will be delivering for around two more weeks until we can complete the transition. Just remember that you still will be receiving our great local certified organic products, and we anticipate that we will continue to host our regular Friday On-Farm Market each week from 11 to 5pm!
We hope that you will stay with us through our time of change. Yes, change can be hard, but we are working tirelessly to ensure a smooth transition. Please be watching for an email from Off The Muck Market in the near future that will provide you with additional information and direction.
Sincerely,
Dick de Graff & Vic Ladd-de Graff
and the Staff at Grindstone Farm