From Local Farm To Office Door

Bella Bean Organics offers delivery of produce to offices of faculty, staff

June 6, 2011 | By Marsha A. Green

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Bella Bean Organics delivers produce to office doors

Nearly two dozen Duke Clinical Research Institute employees participate in an office delivery service of produce through Bella Bean Organics. Photo by Marsha A. Green.

Durham, NC - Lisa Laws lifted the lid and dug through the box containing leafy vegetables and honey-flavored yogurt.

"Yum," she said. "This all smells so fresh."

Ashley Kelly pulled purple sweet potatoes from her box. "Oh, you'll love those," Laws told her. "I got them last week, cooked them up with butter and even my teenager loved them."

Laws and Kelly are among nearly two dozen Duke Clinical Research Institute employees who participate in an office delivery service of produce and other fresh foods through Bella Bean Organics. The company, which participates in Duke's Mobile Farmers Market, purchases local and organic vegetables, baked goods, meats and dairy products from local farmers and vendors and delivers them to homes or Duke offices each Tuesday.

Bella Bean customers sign up for the service online and can select from two options: the standard box of seasonal items ($25.49 plus delivery fee), or a box customized to fit tastes and preferences. Bella Bean offers a sweet deal to groups that coordinate delivery. If four or more boxes are delivered to one location, each person in the group pays 99 cents instead of the $3.99 delivery fee.

The DCRI Clinical Operations group members signed-up after Gina Streaty, Human Resources manager for the DCRI, sent an email to employees at the North Pavilion location letting them know administrators designated a delivery location at the building, enabling employees to easily take advantage of the deal.

Laws, who helps launch clinical research studies around the world, was attracted to the program because she likes supporting local business and eating organic and chemical-free food. "But the ability to save $3 a week on the delivery really sealed the deal," she said.

For Kelly, who also launches clinical research studies, the delivery at work was key.

"Last summer I really wanted to eat healthy, but I simply didn't have a single moment to go to the farmers market," she said. "Now, it just takes a few moments to order, and I can get something different each week. It is fantastic."

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