Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Noah Holtkamp holds a box with a regular produce delivery.
With Nutrient High’s delivery service, people can no longer use the convenience of fast-food restaurants to excuse unhealthy eating habits.
In 2015, Vestavia resident Noah Holtkamp and business partner Joanna Zaleski started formulating ideas for a company that delivers organic produce. They stressed the importance of a healthy diet and quickly worked out the logistics to establish the company.
Nutrient High offers more than 500 types of produce but typically markets seasonal foods, unless specially requested. The company’s office and warehouse is stationed in Trussville. Delivery areas include Pinson and Clay, but are mostly to Vestavia Hills, Homewood and parts of Hoover.
“I personally lost over 40 pounds because I changed my diet and became educated about fruits and vegetables along with grains and legumes,” Holtkamp said. “They are the best you can eat for your body, and I want to share that with our customers.”
A standard package costs $32.50, including delivery fee. The 16-item bundle includes various fruits and vegetables such as plums, potatoes and watermelon. Buyers may customize the package, and the price will fluctuate accordingly.
“So far, I would say we’ve had easily 100 customers, but we want to focus on what each client needs and what will fit their lifestyle best,” Holtkamp said.
Along with produce deliveries, the two entrepreneurs recently added nutrition counseling to their services. Holtkamp said they have assisted about a dozen customers in grocery-store tours and exchanged healthy recipes.
Holtkamp and Zaleski first meet customers at their home or a public place. They then discuss lists of interests: for example, wanting to lose weight or changing to a healthier lifestyle.
“We want to explain to them what is healthy and what is not. It’s important that we don’t say, ‘No, that’s unhealthy’ and leave it at that,” Holtkamp said. “I want to elaborate on why it isn’t healthy.”
Nutrient High promotes local and regional farms, as well as locations in California, Georgia and Florida. Produce shipment from the farms to Nutrient High’s warehouse is on Mondays and Thursdays.
“That way, we have fresh produce coming in throughout the week. If we have a client ordering on Wednesday for example, the produce will still be fresh from Monday,” Holtkamp said.
Although Nutrient High normally delivers during the day, Holtkamp and Zaleski said they do not have set hours. They try to accommodate their clients’ schedules.
Prior to establishing Nutrient High, Holtkamp and Zaleski both completed an online course and each earned a certificate in nutrition from Cornell University.
“My future vision for Nutrient High is for us to continue supporting as many clients as we can,” Holtkamp said. “We want to keep promoting nutrition and impacting others.”
For organic produce deliveries or to schedule a nutrition-counseling session, contact Noah Holtkamp at 789-0550 or visit Nutrient High’s Facebook page.
