Grocery delivery just got a whole lot greener. Harvest Co-op, a local Boston produce provider has teamed up with New Amsterdam Project, a human-powered delivery company, to offer a convenient, affordable new service for it’s customers. Now you can walk, ride a bike or take the train, buzz in any-time, do some shopping and not have to worry about lugging all those bags home. Your order will be delivered to your front door safe and sound -with zero carbon footprint! No longer will you need a car to get food from the store to your home, and no longer will you have to worry about how much gas is being used if you choose home delivery.

At Harvest, nothing is more important than its community. So when customers expressed interest in a
grocery delivery service, Harvest responded… thoughtfully, of course. “Harvest is committed to providing quality products and outstanding service to our members and customers, so a home delivery program to our local patrons made a lot of sense. The last thing we wanted to do, however, was to add more cost, carbon and congestion to the local environment,” said Mike St. Clair, General Manager at Harvest.

Hiring New Amsterdam Project, an exclusively pedal-powered delivery company, was the obvious choice. ”They were the perfect partners” says St. Clair, “A like-minded company with a great idea
and a lot of energy”.

Customers can shop anytime during the week and schedule a delivery to be made between the hours
of 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Charges for delivery are based on distance from the co-op: $7.50 for locations within about a one-mile radius or $10 between one and two miles. Additional delivery areas such as Allston, Boston, Arlington and Belmont are also being considered. Customers will also be able to take advantage of a NAP’s personal shopping service for an additional $20.

While Harvest has added a valuable service for its customers, the benefits to the community don’t stop there. Chris Durkin, Harvest’s Director of Membership and Community Relations: “Our commitment to the environment, to providing healthy food alternatives and to promoting locally owned businesses are not new. It has been our mission as a community owned cooperative since 1971” The deal also helps the upstart Cambridge-based company, New Amsterdam Project, expand its operations while keeping additional gas-powered vehicles off of Cambridge and Somerville streets.

That’s good for the environment and makes for a healthier, more vibrant community. Part of the mission of New Amsterdam Project’s owner, Andrew Brown, is to promote utilitarian cycling in the greater Boston area. “We want to take many of the delivery jobs that are out there and make them healthier” says owner Andrew Brown “We can transform the work experience.”

New Amsterdam Project is quickly proving that cycle-power is a sustainable, profitable approach to
transporting commercial goods. As its services grow, the public can look forward to more Project initiatives to create a greener, healthier future for communities. One day I hope to see nothing but these bicycle powered deliver trucks doing all the local deliveries in every city. This is a great idea’s who’s time has most certainly come.