Next day delivery of locally-grown fruit to your door | ABC30 Fresno

kfsn

By ABC30

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Fresno, CA Richard Olson is one of the local farmers who have signed on with "Ripe Now," a new company which promises next day delivery of locally-grown fruit.

Jeremy Lane, company president said, "This fruit here that we're trying to use is fruit that's not meant to withstand the rigors of commercial distribution. This fruit can only be enjoyed here."

Customers who can't make it to a fruit stand or a farmer's market can go on-line to the ripe now website, see what's in season and put in an order. A typical box of fruit costs $29.95 to be delivered. "Yellow flesh peach, high acid, high sugar; can't beat it."

Dick Peterson is another organic peach grower who sells some of his fruit on the website.

Dick Peterson, Kingsburg farmer said, "We're kind of semi-retired so marketing is whole another job."

Peterson grows 30 acres of peaches and pluots in Kingsburg. His fruit is shipped around the country but he likes the idea of his fruit being delivered directly to someone's doorstep by "ripe now."

"We didn't have to worry that our fruit was sitting in cold storage for 3-4 weeks before it's getting sold or maybe never sold because it would come in and in a few days would be going to the markets. It relieves a lot of stress".

Peterson doesn't have time for the internet but loves the fact people are buying local.

Jeremy Lane, company president said, "Ripe now is not taking ownership of this fruit per se. We want to expose where the fruit came from, who grew it, and how they grew it. Give a brief bio on it."