Worth Comparing

Grocery prices have been top of mind for many of us lately. I hear it from members, friends, and even farmers we work with each week. So this week, I decided to take a closer look at something we don’t always lead with: how The Produce Box actually compares on price.

We pulled together a real-world comparison using items from this week’s Harvest Box and looked at local grocery pricing... and the results may surprise you!

Harvest Box vs. Harris Teeter

If you'd like to compare for yourself, here are the links we used. Please note, these grocery prices are subject to change from when we compared on February 18, 2026.

This week’s Harvest Box tells a bigger story.

Built mostly from North Carolina farms, it brings together a unique seasonal mix that you simply can’t find at the grocery store, especially not locally sourced in one place. You can't find NC-grown, creamy Yukon Golds at Harris Teeter, and you'd have to schlep it to Publix to even find Organic Lacinato Kale (Harris Teeter doesn't carry it). Though some of our individual items are more expensive than what you'd find at the grocery, our Harvest Box still comes out on top in affordability... and integrity.

✓ Majority local produce

✓ Priced competitively

✓ Delivered to your door

✓ Supports a small, woman-owned business rooted in Raleigh

✓ Priced by real people, guided by real relationships, not just algorithms

With grocery prices continuing to rise, it’s fair to ask where that money goes.

National grocery supply chains operate at a massive scale. Kroger, which owns Harris Teeter, recently reported their new CEO's executive compensation package at $16 million+ annually. Meanwhile, new technologies like AI-driven dynamic pricing are beginning to change how some platforms charge shoppers based on behavior and demand. (Have you seen the news about Instacart using AI to charge some shoppers more?)

At The Produce Box, pricing still happens organically. It’s decided by our small team who know the farms behind the food, who look at seasonality, farmer needs, and community access, not just data models. Most importantly, we prioritize our farmers taking home a fair share of the retail dollar. While the national average share of every retail dollar is just 14% for farmers, our farmers earn three times this.

Choosing local keeps more of your food dollars circulating closer to home, directly supporting North Carolina growers, producers, and families.

Why This Matters to Me

As Director of The Produce Box, I spend a lot of time thinking about how to make local food feel both meaningful and practical.

Yes, supporting farmers matters deeply to me. But so does helping families in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and across the Triangle feel like local food fits into their real life. Not just on special occasions, but week after week.

It's also deeply important to me that we, as a community, prioritize community resilience and keep farmland in production. Even shifting just 25% of your weekly diet to local makes a huge difference for ensuring North Carolina maintains a strong agricultural economy for generations to come.

When we say “Eat Like You Live Here,” it’s not just about values. It’s about building a food system where local farms thrive, small businesses stay rooted in community, and your weekly groceries feel just a little more connected to where you live.

Warmly,

Bailey

Director, The Produce Box