These goods are not only organic, but are also provided by local farmers and artisans who have partnered with Green BEAN (an acronym that reflects the company's culture: Biodynamic Education Agriculture Nutrition).
Green BEAN started in Indianapolis nearly 10 years ago, founded by a couple with a passion for local, natural foods. It went from a business with one delivery vehicle to one with 75 vehicles and six warehouse hubs across the Midwest and South (located in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and now Tennessee).
For some local artisans, partnering with Green BEAN has given them an opportunity to expand their customer base.
Bessie's Noodles, a Miamisburg business that started in 2008 during the Great Recession with a homemade recipe and a local approach, partnered with Green BEAN in 2013. Since then, co-owner Monica Easterling says that their online distribution sales have risen by 20 percent.
"They have really helped expand our online distribution in the Midwest," Easterling said. "The fact that Bessie's Noodles is a local, natural, homegrown product … Green BEAN is a great fit."
Green BEAN also partners with other local businesses, such as Bowman and Landes Turkeys, Inc.,Tom's Garden, MichaelFarms in Urbana and EcOhio Farm in Mason.
Towne said his business has a niche appeal, and that they "boast the largest network of growers and artisans" within the growing regions that they service. It's safe to say that Green BEAN Delivery has cornered their Midwestern market.
"We've obviously done our research and we know our competitors, and nobody can boast that," Towne said. "I really am confident that nobody from field to fork is doing what we're doing."
The company has recently launched a program to attract more customers. As a part of this new effort, the company will no longer require customers to buy $28 of produce before they purchase other artisan goods, in a service called "The U-Pick Bin."
This adjustment was made to combat the trend of people growing their own produce during the summer, or buying it at local farmer's markets, which would lessen the demand for BEAN's delivered produce, Shane Towne, the president of BEAN, LLC, said.
Green BEAN will also allow customers to place their orders up until 10 a.m. the day before their delivery; they used to be required to submit orders by Monday at noon. In addition, the business has implemented new mobile enhancements to make shopping from the smartphone easier.
As a homegrown business with a local emphasis, Towne believes that the company's biggest challenge in its 10 years of growth has been keeping its culture.
"As you grow, you can lose sight of what your core values are. But I think we have a strong hold on that," Towne said. "That's where I compliment our ownership; I really consider them to be the culture-keepers of our organization. They really put back the focus on us of, community-first, always."
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