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Love fresh produce? FresYes Realty is now a pickup location for Ooooby Fresno

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FresYes Realty

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We’ve got amazing news! You can now swing by FresYes Realty to grab your Ooooby box on Tuesdays between 12-6 p.m.!

What exactly is Ooooby Fresno? Put simply, it’s fresh, seasonal, organic fruits and vegetables delivered to your neighborhood. How it works is, you choose the size of box you want, place your weekly (or every other week) order, then pick it up at your delivery site—which can now be the FresYes office located at 7785 N. Palm Ave. #109!

ooooby fresno pickup

Photo: Ooooby Fresno

Farmers Market delivered to you

Ooooby is basically like having a farmers market delivered to you. It’s perfect for those who just can’t find the time to wander the markets every week. 

Each box features a certain amount of fruits and vegetables. Prior to delivery, you’ll receive an email letting you know what’s in your box that week (to see what’s currently in the boxes, click here.) You’ll also receive recipes and info about where exactly your produce was grown.

Sounds great, right? To learn more about Ooooby Fresno and what community-supported agriculture is all about, read this. And click here to get started on ordering your Ooooby Fresno delivery today!

Special deal just for you

For a FREE introductory box, use code FRESYESORGANIC when you sign up for Ooooby Fresno.

Are you ready to invest in a healthier city? Food Commons Fresno announces DPO

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Jol Devitro

Jol Devitro is a writer, actor, and artist who’s recently returned to Fresno after 25 years of adventuring out of the valley. He’s excited to be rediscovering his hometown, exploring and highlighting the cultural diversity that makes Fresno such a vibrant, unique melting pot.

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Fresno has long enjoyed the reputation of being the bread, fruit, and nut basket of the world, which is why it can be startling to discover the existence of food deserts still in our midst. Food deserts are areas where affordable, healthy produce is scarce. Residents of a food desert might have to travel for miles to come up with a satisfactory head of locally grown lettuce or a bag of, say, Fresno-raised stone fruit.

In an effort to eradicate these food deserts from our fair region and bring farm-fresh organic produce into the hands of local residents at fair prices, Food Commons Fresno was established in 2015. Committed to supporting organic and sustainable farming practices, fostering employment diversity, and empowering small-scale farmers, as well as creating value for customers, Food Commons Fresno was founded on principles set forth by national non-profit organization The Food Commons, whose vision is “to create an economically thriving business that brings food, health, employment, and social and economic justice to a community.”

Since then, Food Commons Fresno has succeeded in enacting the first phase of its plan, launching Ooooby (Out of Our Own Backyards), a subscription-based farm-to-home local produce box that can be either picked up or delivered to one’s door. By partnering with local farms such as Tower Urban Family Farms and the TD Willey Farm, whose CSA (community supported agriculture) business it acquired and converted into Ooooby, Food Commons Fresno has been able to rapidly expand its customer base.

Food Commons Fresno DPO

Direct Public Offering announced

But that’s just the beginning of its far-reaching plan to reshape the valley’s agri-business model. Food Commons Fresno also aims to connect local organic farmers to local shops and restaurants that would in turn supply fresh organic produce to the community; and moreover, it would facilitate the creation and aid the development of new businesses that would do the same. And so, to these ends, it has established a wholesale processing and distribution hub where produce from trusted farmers is collected then marketed directly to participating restaurants and institutions. In addition, Food Commons Fresno last year converted a second facility, on Belmont, into a commissary kitchen to be used by food trucks and bicycle food cart vendors.

After years of laying this groundwork, Food Commons Fresno is hoping you’ll come on board with its mission of promoting “health, equity, stewardship and economic development” in Fresno and throughout the San Joaquin Valley, “while making fresh, local produce both accessible and affordable” for area residents. It’s just announced a state-approved Direct Public Offering that will allow local residents to invest in the company and, in turn, permit Food Commons Fresno to raise funds for the next stages of its development, which include the launch of its first retail market, as well as the purchase of additional farmland.

Food Commons Fresno DPO

Open house for investors held Jan. 30

On Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ooooby Fresno and Food Commons Fresno will host an open house designed specifically to attract local investors into the pool of its newly announced DPO. You’re invited to come hear all the details of the offer and how you can participate. The open house is happening at 202 Van Ness Ave. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Meet Your Local CSA: Ooooby Fresno

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Jenna Ardaiz-Brown

I'm a seasoned traveler, am intrigued by just about anything creative, and enjoy activities that run the gamut- knitting, downhill skiing, reading, and swing dancing, just to name a few. And of course, I write.

I was born in Fresno and grew up here, as did my husband and my parents. I'm thrilled to be raising my young son here too! I've gone away for school and spent brief periods in other parts of California, but have always ended up homesick for my hometown.

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I don’t think you’ll get any arguments from the people of FresYes when it comes to the stance that we have incredible access to amazingly fresh local produce.

Somehow though, it’s still a mind bender to realize other regions just don’t have the options we have here.

My husband spent a few months in Mississippi for work and realized how spoiled we are here. He noted that as a rule, the produce where he was seemed smaller, the selection was more limited, and it was considerably more expensive. He got all excited when he finally spotted a beautiful cantaloupe. Coincidentally, there was a sticker from a farm in Turlock on it. Quite a journey for a melon!

Part of the charm of our Valley is the gorgeous seasonal produce available. Who else loves to spot fruit and veggie stands that pop up on the side of the road on a regular basis? (Strawberries, anyone?)

You can even get hands-on and visit a U-pick farm, harvesting fruit with your own two hands. During peak growing season, there are farmers markets going on somewhere in FresYes every single day of the week.

But if you really want to dip your toe into seasonal eating, get an impromptu tour of what the San Joaquin Valley has to offer, and maybe try new some new things, I maintain there’s no better way to do that than a subscription to a CSA box.

ooooby fresno

What is a CSA Box?

CSA stands for “Community-Supported Agriculture.” The general premise is that you cut out the middleman, calculate roughly what your household goes through in a set period of time, and subscribe to get your goodies directly from a farmer or collective of farmers.

Voila! A box with pre-selected, seasonal local produce magically arrives, either at your door, or at a drop-off location for you to pick up.

Some CSAs are more than just fruits and veggies. Eggs, local honey, jams and jellies, herbs, and even meat is sometimes offered as an add-on option for subscribers. There are usually recipes included as well, just in case you’re stymied by kohlrabi.

You’ll still have to get your bananas at Save Mart or wherever, but in my experience, getting a CSA box makes meal planning kind of an adventure. And let’s face it, who couldn’t use more fresh fruit and veg in their eating routine?

Sound intriguing? Great! Let’s explore some of the local CSAs. Since there are a few to choose from, I’ve decided to focus on one at a time, giving each their due. This week, I’ll be highlighting Ooooby Fresno.

ooooby fresno

Ooooby bonanza

Ooooby Fresno At a Glance

Website: https://www.ooooby.org/

Contact: (559) 674-2642

Pick up or home delivery? Pick up. There are Ooooby drop sites all over Fresno.

Box sizes available:

  • Small: 1-2 fruits, 6-7 vegetables. $16
  • Medium: 2-3 fruits, 8-9 vegetables. $21
  • Large: 3-4 fruits, 9-10 vegetables. $28
  • Oooober Box: 3-4 fruits, 11-13 vegetables, occasional speciality items. $35
fresno ooooby

Ooooby is always ready to sweeten the deal!

Ooooby accepts EBT and gives EBT discounts. Boxes are customizable to an extent; your preferences are catered to. Extras are easy to add, and Ooooby has goodies ranging from dried fruit to eggs, chocolate, honey, and even flour.

Ooooby Fresno Questions Answered

As usual, I just had to ask a few hard-hitting questions about Ooooby. Kiel Schmidt of Food Commons Fresno was good enough to get back to me with some great answers!

JAB: What path led you to starting up your business?

KS: Ooooby Fresno was started as the first step to transition the operation of the T&D Willey Farms as Tom and Denesse retired. In May 2015, we transitioned the operation of their CSA to a Food Commons Fresno operation. In January 2017, we completed the transition of their 75-acre organic farm in Madera into our operation.

What’s your favorite aspect of running a CSA?

We have a great team that really enjoys connecting our local organic farms to families and individuals across the region.

Your personal favorite product you include in the boxes is…

Organic strawberries! Strawberry season has begun!

What sets your business apart?

Many things. We are a great price and accept EBT and Everyone Eats fund to help everyone afford our region’s bounty. Additionally, Ooooby Fresno’s parent company is Food Commons Fresno. That places it within a larger strategy to build a robust local food system with community ownership as the backbone.

What the heck am I supposed to do with all this fennel?!!

Fennel has a great licorice flavor and is fun to chew raw. Beyond that, it is great sliced thin in a salad or roasted with other veggies. We have a few fennel recipes on our website here.

What’s your favorite and least fave fruit or veggie?

Favorite fruit is strawberry, favorite veggie is Brussel sprouts. As far as least favorite, we don’t have one, there is always a way to prepare fruits and veggies to be delicious. We really enjoy exploring new and seasonal flavors.

 

CSAs sound pretty great so far, right? Over the next few weeks, I’ll focus on The Farmer’s Daughter CSA, Abundant Harvest Organics, and Harvest Fields Organic Farm, so make sure to look for those.

[Want to know even more about Ooooby? Check out this FresYes feature from last year!]