From Pickle Maker to Pop-Up Community Food Delivery

A delivery going out from Number 1 Sons with partner food producers.

Number 1 Sons nimbly reinvents their business in two weeks

By Annalise Morrone | Edible DC

Before Covid-19, Number 1 Sons was entirely focused on pushing their fermented and pickled products at over 30 farmers markets throughout the DMV. Post COVID, with customers respecting stay-at-home orders and farmers markets forced to comply with strict health and safety precautions, they saw their customer base fall rapidly and significantly.

Number 1 Sons is a pickling and fermenting company based in Northeast DC, founded and co-owned by Caitlin Roberts and her brother Yi Wah. When the tides changed for shopping volume at farm markets in March, the Roberts kept their pulse on the news and quickly recognized that they would need to spin their business model to focus on home deliveries and had weeks of tireless work ahead to make that happen. So while they continue their popular vendor business at a couple of dozen DMV farmers markets, they now focus most of their attention on delivering to homes across the DMV.

Number 1 Sons set up their new delivery system in their Ivy City manufacturing space.

Since April, the Number 1 Sons team has been making an average of 1,000 home deliveries a week, courtesy of six refrigerated vans. Customers pre-order their weekly ferments and other items online at the Number 1 Sons’ website and the team will either deliver to the customer’s door or have the order ready for pick-up at a participating farmers market.

The team’s efforts to support the local DMV food system have not stopped there.

Number 1 Sons rallied an array of local producers and offered home delivery for their product, along with local produce and pantry staples. Partnering with 15 DMV farmers and makers such as The Farm at Sunnyside, Little Sesame, Mastiha Bakery, King Mushroom Farm, Rappahannock Oyster Co., among others, Number 1 Sons has consolidated producers’ offerings, helping suggest packaging for home delivery.

Since beginning their delivery routes a few weeks ago, the team has completed over 5000 deliveries and are delivering into areas that have not typically gotten delivery produce service, such as Prince George’s County.

Roberts is thrilled by the support she has seen for small businesses and the local food movement amidst this crisis. She is buoyed by the calls she has been getting from customers inquiring about their product and says she optimistic about their future because “local food is powerful, resilient and sustainable.” Roberts and her team believe they can weather the COVID storm, driven by the power and compassion of the local food movement.

If you are interested in home delivery or know someone who could benefit from home delivery, go to the Number 1 sons website here.