Papa Spud’s Organics is a great organic food services company that serves customers in Raleigh. If you missed our first post about Papa Spud’s Organics, go check it out. For this post, we were able ask Rob Meyer (co-owner, along with Ben Stone), some questions about the company. Please see below for the interview.
*Why did you start Papa Spuds?
The idea behind Papa Spud’s Organics is quite simple - MAKE FOOD-SHOPPING FUN! Most people would love to eat more fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, but don’t have time to waste sorting through Supermarket produce or waiting in busy checkout lanes. At Papa Spud’s we want to change that. We want to make it easy for Triangle residents to eat high-quality organic foods everyday, and transform the entire experience into an enjoyable one, not a painful chore.
*Organic food delivery-sounds great, but how much does it cost?
It actually doesn’t cost anymore than a trip to the grocery store. By working directly with farmers and eliminating overhead costs, we offer fresher, higher-quality produce, for comparable or even cheaper rates than the Supermarket - plus we deliver it to your door at no additional cost.
*What are the benefits of eating organic food?
The biggest benefit to eating organic is the benefit to the environment. Organic farms do not rely on pesticides or synthetic fertilizers that pollute the environment and give nothing back to the land. Instead, organic farmers utilize ecological balance to create a farm that naturally limits pests and restores soil quality. Unfortunately, conventional farming does the opposite. Conventional farming creates food at the expense of the environment, and does so in a way that is entirely unsustainable. By eating organic you are supporting an environmentally friendly way of life.
*What exactly makes a certain fruit or vegetable “organic”?
While there are a few different levels of “organic”, the most commonly referred to is “certified-organic”. “Certified-organic” means crops grown on land that hasn’t been treated with chemicals, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers for a minimum of three years.
*What do you offer that people can’t find in the grocery store?
Above all, I think we offer an experience. For example, just this week we began offering a Weekly Sampler Box where customers can sign up to have an assortment of fruits and vegetables (all North Carolina grown starting in mid-April) delivered to their door every Wednesday morning
*Where do you get all this delicious food from?
Unlike supermarkets, we really pay attention to where our crops come from and emphasize locally-grown organics. Locally-grown organics are fresher, better cared for, and don’t flood our atmosphere with carbon emissions from having been shipped around the world. We do maintain a full stock of out-of-season and more exotic selections from our sunny neighbors to the South and West, but we always try to get it from as close to home as possible.
*What would you say to someone that claims they can’t tell a difference in taste between organic and non-organic food?
Most people actually tend to prefer the taste of organic foods to conventionally grown foods. A Washington State University study confirmed this fact in 2001. There is even a push among many gourmet chefs toward fresh, locally-grown, organic foods for their superior flavor.
