Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks, Chicago

Inspired by their own quest to find locally grown, organic food to serve their kids, Irv and Shelly decided to start their own network of independent farmers and deliver their produce to doorsteps. Drawing on their backgrounds in economic development and nonprofit environmental activities, the two connected with suppliers such as Eric Rose of River Valley Ranch in Burlington, Wisconsin. His third-generation family farm has been growing mushrooms since 1976, following the tenets of organic farming when producing portabella, crimini, white button, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms.

As Irv and Shelly deliver the yield from Rose and their other partners, they choose the most efficient route so as to reduce their carbon footprint. This means they can’t promise specific delivery times, but most orders arrive in the afternoon in boxes whose client-customized bounty is kept fresh by ice packs.