Fundraisers with schools and churches make up a great deal of
Front Door Produce ’ s business .
Brad Mathis is co-owner of Front Door Produce .
“ We can get fresher produce to the consumer than the supermarket route can .”
By shipping to customers straight from the packing house , Front Door Produce cuts down the time between the picking of the plants and the delivery to the customer , Mathis said .
“ We can get fresher produce to the consumer than the supermarket route can ,” he said .
Front Door Produce can ship nationally , though they do concentrate their efforts on the Southern states , Mathis said .
While the company can and does ship straight to private customers ’ homes , much of their business is handled through churches , schools , and other organizations for fundraising and aid purposes , he said .
Many hospitals buy their boxes around holidays , Mathis said .
Mathis compared his company to firms such as Hello Fresh and Blue Apron , except that where those firms ship prepacked meals , Front Door Produce ships the raw materials for cooking .
The company ’ s fresh produce boxes are used in an aid program in Valdosta that teaches homeless people how to cook and eat healthy , he said .
For future plans , Mathis said he will be moving his office to Valdosta , though the packing plant will remain in Norman Park . He also said Front Door Produce will be working with Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black on future projects .
March 2023 | Valdosta Scene 13