Open For the Season: Rustic Roots Delivery

While there is an abundance of fresh, organic veggies and fruits available at local farm stands, sometimes finding the time to stop by and pick them up proves challenging. That's where Jeffery Moore, owner of the year-old Rustic Roots Delivery, steps in.

Rustic Roots already does business with Balsam Farms and Good Water Farms in East Hampton Town.

Moore, who moved to Hampton Bays full-time six months ago, decided to start the business after running restaurants in Montauk and Manhattan — wanting to enjoy the fresh air, he opted to start the delivery business, which has re-opened for its second season, providing fresh baskets of food to customers across Long Island and in Manhattan.

"There are so many great, local organic farms that people want to access, but their lives are so busy they can't drive there everyday. I aim to make the connection between the two," said Moore.

Moore's business plan is simple — customers order fresh fruits and veggies online and Moore picks them up at local farm stands and delivers them his customer's doors.

"It's not like a share where you get what is available that week," said Moore. "My customers can customize their baskets."

For example, Moore said some customers may want more tomatoes in their weekly basket.

"We try to customize baskets for the wants and needs of the customer and create a little variety," he said.

And aside from fruit and vegetables, customers can order organic dairy products, as well as meat and honey.

Juicing baskets, which Moore said have been a big hit, are also available.

On average, a weekly basket of between 12 and 14 items costs $55, said Moore, who is health conscious himself.

The products Moore uses to fill the weekly baskets come from a variety of places and Moore said he is always looking for farms to contract with.

He also does business with Briermere, Goodale Farms, and Biophilia Farm in Riverhead.

Moore also contracts with Jen's Hens in Smithtown; and with upstate farms for fresh eggs, dairy and meat. Honey is purchased in Mannorville.

For more information on Rustic Roots Delivery, visit their website here.