That was the response of Ellen Mattingly when she first found out that The Chef’s Garden is now selling directly to home chefs, offering products of the same high quality we’ve been offering top chefs for 30 years. And, yes. Home chefs can choose to have the sustainably farmed products delivered right to their homes or they can take advantage of at-farm pickup days and times. “We decided to start delivering to home chefs,” explains Farmer Lee Jones, “because people are ready to reconnect with real food. A couple of generations ago, when increasing numbers of families had both Mom and Dad working outside of the home, convenience in cooking became key. That’s when kids were eating frozen dinners in silver trays in front of the television set – or eating frozen turkey and gravy that was thawed out in boiling water and served over toast. Presto. Dinner.” Forty years ago, Farmer Lee explains, was therefore the all-time low for farmer’s markets. “Fortunately,” he continues, “the pendulum swung too far towards convenience. Now, people are much savvier, tuned into where food products are being grown and into the integrity of food. They want their vegetables and greens to be grown by people who conscientiously care for crops – and so, not surprisingly, farmer’s market use is now at an historic high.”
“My husband Rick and I love to cook,” Ellen says, “and, having been at the Culinary Vegetable Institute and having seen what’s available, I’m excited about the possibilities of using specialty ingredients, both from a culinary sense and an artistic one.” Her husband Rick Knapp actually participated in the Chef for a Day program, and the couple entertains at home regularly. “The products we got to enjoy from The Chef’s Garden are ideal to make a perfect salad or to add the perfect flavoring in soup. Really, they’re perfect for any dish. The flavors are wonderful, and the microgreens and micro-vegetables lend themselves to artistic expression and to making cooking much more interesting, exciting and fun. I’m inspired to try new recipes – and to put fresh twists on favorite ones.”
The great news, Farmer Lee says, is that the program does NOT involve home chefs receiving boxes of whatever is available in huge quantities. “With those programs,” he says, “you might get a box full of zucchini right when your own garden is overflowing with them. Instead, you can pick and choose what available products you want, in sizes and quantities you want.”
See what’s currently available for home delivery (or pickup on designated days).
Click on the first product you’re interested in buying; for example, mixed beets.
Mixed beets are available in ultra, young and baby sizes, so you’d make your selection in the size scrollbar.
See what options exist in the units of measure scrollbar and make your choice. In this case, options include one pound or ten pounds.
Enter the quantity you want.
Add to your cart and the current price will appear.
Provide shipping information. Products can be shipped to you or to friends, family members and business associates as gifts.
If a product is not currently available, you simply provide your email address to get notifications of availability.
Repeat the process with other fresh delicious vegetables of choice!
You can also sign up for our home chef newsletter for up-to-the-minute information about fresh product availability and much more.