Local produce supplier expanding into home delivery service

Eighty Deuce Produce, a St. Petersburg-based company supplying fresh produce to local restaurants and bars, is expanding into an at-home delivery service. The new offering will provide consumers with the same restaurant-quality fruits and vegetables enjoyed at top eateries in the area, delivered straight to their doorsteps.

The company will offer produce bundles in small ($25) and large ($40) sizes, available for delivery with a fee. Each bundle will come in three varieties: Veggie-focused, fruit-focused and a mixed option. The small bundle weighs approximately 16 pounds, while the large bundle includes about 31 pounds of fresh produce.

The name “Eighty Deuce Produce” was inspired by the company’s produce buyer and part owner, who previously served in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. “Eighty Deuce” is a nickname for the 82nd Airborne.

The produce bundles can be delivered to the customer’s home or work. Customers can opt for a delivery weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or order bundles on an as-needed basis– no subscription required.

Chris Gharrity, owner of Eighty Deuce Produce, said the company’s ability to source produce directly from wholesale markets in Miami and Tampa allows them to offer competitive pricing compared to grocery stores.

“The Roma tomatoes, garlic, fresh herbs, edible flowers – all that great quality you get at the best restaurants – will be picked and selected that very morning and available in the bundles,” Gharrity said. “If you were to go into a grocery store, it would cost about double the price, and we have far superior produce.”

In addition to the home delivery service, Eighty Deuce Produce plans to open a retail storefront in the Lealman area of St. Petersburg within the next few months. The 8,000-square-foot brick-and-mortar store will be located on a busy stretch of 28th St. N., addressing the need for fresh produce in a “food desert” in unincorporated Pinellas County.

“I never saw myself doing retail, but we’ve had so much demand for it and interest in it,” Gharrity said.

Once the storefront is operational, the company also intends to participate in the Fresh Access program, which provides a dollar-for-dollar match up to $20 for EBT recipients purchasing fresh produce – effectively offering free fruits and vegetables to low-income families in the area.

Eighty Deuce Produce’s home delivery boxes can be purchased online at eightydeuceproduce.com/home-delivery.