Avoiding grocery stores? Here are some alternative options in Central New York

Does the thought of grocery shopping in the time of coronavirus stress you out? If you answered yes, you're not alone. Lots of folks are making as few trips to supermarkets as possible -- and using shopping services like Instacart to avoid stores entirely.

Some local stores, farms, restaurants and other businesses have stepped up to make it possible for you to leave the shopping -- or some of the shopping -- to someone else.  By ordering a local produce box, for example, you can limit trips to the store for cooking essentials like onions, carrots and potatoes and at the same time eat your beets and enjoy in-season items like ramps. Several options are available and with some you can add on items like meat, cheese, eggs and bread. Best of all, you are supporting people in the community who could really use our help right now.

Following are some ideas for easy pickup and/or delivery of provisions. If you know of others, feel free to leave a note in the comments.

NYS Farmers Boxes: Mark Pawliw of Farm to Fork 101 and chef Rich Strub of Eden, a wood-fired restaurant in Hanover Square, have teamed up to offer farm-fresh food for curbside pickup (or delivered to your door). Produce and proteins, including meat, cheese and eggs, are sourced from farms in Central New York. We ordered the basic box for $30 and added on a baguette from Scratch Bakehouse ($2.25). The box included onions, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips, beets, lemons, apples and a daikon radish. Offerings change each week, depending on available produce and add-ons. Boxes are now being offered for Tuesday or Friday pickup. Orders must be received by 5 p.m. Sunday for Tuesday pickup/delivery or 5 p.m. Wednesday for Friday pickup/delivery. Delivery is available in Onondaga County only. MORE INFORMATION 

Off the Muck Farm: Off the Muck offers fresh, local fruits, vegetables, and other locally produced items, delivered to your doorstep. Some of the items included are: Onions, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, radishes, beets, green beans, summer squash, cucumbers and winter squash. Box contents can be customized to suit your needs and wants and you can add on items from local businesses (like coffee, eggs, bread, meats and cheeses). "I love the small portions,'' says a friend who ordered a custom box (part of which is shown here). “The idea of a huge pile of parsnips terrifies me. And even if I eat two apples a day, I often don't finish a grocery store bag before some go soft.'' MORE INFORMATION 

Grindstone Farm: The de Graff family, pioneers in organic growing in Central New York, offer several ways to order: create-your-own boxes, with produce grown by Grindstone and partner farms, and specialty boxes like a microbox (for one- or two- person households), a healthy box with a mix of produce that changes weekly, a fruit box, a keto box and more. The website lists multiple drop-off points in Central New York, Oswego County and the North Country and home delivery is available. Order by noon on Monday for delivery on Thursday in Central New York and Friday in Northern New York.

Grindstone also hosts an on-farm organic market from 1 to 4 p.m. Fridays. One customer at a time is allowed in the store area.  MORE INFORMATION 

Farm Swarming: Farm Swarming provides delivery of goods from local farms and food producers to homes in Onondaga County and in Broome County. It’s like an online farmers market. Orders ($15 minimum) must be placed by 4 p.m. Tuesday for delivery on Friday.  Items available for purchase include meats, cheeses, butter, yogurt, eggs, honey, pancake mixes and more. Delivery in Onondaga County is on Fridays; Broome County deliveries are scheduled for Saturday. MORE INFORMATION

Syracuse Cooperative Market: The community-owned grocery store is offering personal shopping and curbside pickup to members and non-members from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Call the store with your order and arrange a pickup time (orders may be scheduled for the next day). There is a $5 order fee and five-item minimum per order. A staff member will shop and bag your order and call you if items are out of stock or a substitution is required. MORE INFORMATION

Trinity Valley Dairy: Trinity Valley, based in Truxton, has added a drive-thru window and home delivery to many locations in Central New York to its services. In addition to Trinity Valley’s creamline milks, cheese curds and other dairy products, the online store offers homemade baked goods, produce, meats, eggs, butter and pantry items like pancake mixes. 

There is a minimum order of $35. Place your order by 1 p.m. the day before delivery is scheduled in your area. MORE INFORMATION 

Wake Robin Farm and Bakery: Owners Meg and Bruce Schader have transitioned from dairy farming to full-fledged bread bakery. They recently started making deliveries in western Onondaga County (including Jordan, Elbridge, Skaneateles and Marcellus and areas in between). Some of their breads, including rustic sourdough, oat groat bread and sunflower flax bread, are made with Farmer Ground Flour from Trumansburg.  Orders of three items or more are delivered free of charge. Orders must be received by 5 p.m. Friday for delivery on Saturday.

Breads are also available for purchase at their farm store in Jordan (3 to 6 p.m. Fridays) and at the Central New York Regional Market from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. MORE INFORMATION

Cafe Kubal: Lockdown is no time to run out of coffee. Local roaster Cafe Kubal is offering home delivery of coffee beans. Order by 11 a.m. Monday to Friday for same-day local delivery. Order after 11 a.m. for next-day delivery. MORE INFORMATION 

20/East: This boutique on Albany Street in Cazenovia (above) is small but pretty much has it all. Owner McKenzie Hughes Houseman has shifted gears to make 20/East more of a general store, offering everything from milk, eggs and artisan breads and baked goods to meats, local cheeses, produce, prepared meals, hand sanitizers and even toilet paper. Order online for curbside pickup or delivery or bring your mask and come inside. The store has room for just a few customers at a time. MORE INFORMATION


Epicuse: This specialty market and cafe in downtown Syracuse, operated by the owners of SKY Armory, has ramped up the grocery side of the business to cater to people during the Covid-19 crisis. The store offers produce, meats, cheeses, eggs, milk, yogurt and lots of interesting pantry items to help you cook at home -- plus gourmet prepared food items to reheat and eat at home. Online ordering and curbside pickup is available. MORE INFORMATION

Heritage Hill Brewery/Farm Store at Palladino Farms: Many of the made-in-New York items at the farm store in Pompey have been moved into the brewhouse/bar area, so customers can come in easily and make purchases. Grocery items include meats, cheeses, eggs, pasta and pasta sauces, pancake and waffle mixes, etc. You'll also find face masks and toilet paper. Heritage Hill crowlers and growlers are available to go, as are takeout meals (including a weekend griller special and a Sunday brunch box). Order online for curbside pickup; free delivery is available within five miles of the brewhouse. MORE INFORMATION

Good Nature Brewery: Add New York State's first farm brewery to the list of shutdown businesses that have pivoted to help keep the lights on. In addition to menu items to go, including family meals, Good Nature has added an online ordering platform and is offering local food items like meat, eggs, cheeses, breads and baked goods – along with its signature beers (and hard cider, wines and spirits). Curbside pickup is available and home delivery is an option in the Hamilton area. MORE INFORMATION  

Kriemhild Kupboard: The Kriemhild Kupboard, south of Hamilton, is open daily from dawn to dusk. In addition to several varieties of Kriemhild meadow butter, the stand is stocked with Stoltzfus milks and yogurt, East Hill Creamery cheeses, meats, Jones Family Farm gelato, snacks, jams and jellies and other fridge, freezer and pantry items.  It's a small, self-serve shop in the country; don’t forget your shopping bag(s). Payment is by the honor system, so bring cash or a check. Also bring a mask and practice social distancing: If someone is inside, wait until they are finished before you enter. MORE INFORMATION

Comments

[Margaret @ Eat First]

Thanks for reading, Mitch. Some local bakeries ARE offering limited menus for curbside pickup. These include The Sweet Praxis and Half Moon Bakery and Bistro in Jamesville.

[Mitch Mitchell]

These are cool shares; unfortunately, I usually only need onions or potatoes. Now, if you'd come across a place that delivered cake and such, I'd be there! :-)

[Renee K. Gadoua]

Thanks for putting together this list of local grocery shopping alternatives. Look forward to trying a few more.