Behind the Box: Meet Neil Stauffer, Harvie’s Sourcing Manager
Behind the Box is Harvie’s way of connecting you to the people behind your weekly grocery delivery. Meet Neil Stauffer, who’s been with Harvie from the beginning.
What is the last thing you ate?
We don’t always do a lot of lunchtime cooking on the weekend, but today is an easy-going Saturday so we decided to make a little brunch. We had fried eggs from our four backyard chickens. We put the eggs on Mediterra’s parmesan peppercorn bread (toasted is key!) stacked with sauteed lacinato kale from Lancaster Farm Fresh, crumbled bolton feta from Hidden Hills Dairy, and topped it off with Pickled Chef hot sauce and Robusta black pepper from Burlap & Barrel. As Sourcing Manager, I was fortunate enough to also have samples of apple fennel breakfast sausage links from Birch Creek Farmery on hand (an item I hope we begin to carry in the coming weeks).
And finally, we had some of our stash of Putt Family orange slices — accidentally put 15 in our cart this week! — and our last apple cider from Soergel’s. And, just because, we made lattes with La Prima Dark and Twin Brook Cream-Top Whole Milk. Happiness.
What’s your favorite comfort food, go-to meal, or recipe?
While right now I fully embrace soup season, I think my number one go-to comfort foods are probably from the grill in summertime. I love making fresh burgers over charcoal and alongside seasonal veggies: asparagus, zucchini, shishito peppers, quartered romaine, and usually some of Mediterra’s grilled Red Fife bread for dipping in salted olive oil.
What’s your favorite Harvie product?
Who can really pick just one product? Since my primary job is to source the produce (and meats) for Harvie, I have to say that I am really enjoying the organic citrus right now. The smell and taste transports me to somewhere warm and relaxing.
But, if I can throw in honorable mentions, I am also in love with the Laurel Hill trout fillets and the wild sockeye salmon which comes from my buddy Jake’s fishing operation in Alaska.
What’s your favorite spot in Pittsburgh?
I recently moved half an hour north of Pittsburgh so our family could start a small farm, called Mighty Small Farm. But, my wife and I got married and started our family in the Garfield neighborhood of the city, and I still love going back there to see our old neighbors and walk the streets.
What’s your favorite thing about Harvie/working for Harvie?
Simon brought me on at the very beginning of the Harvie Farms Pittsburgh startup, and the mission means a great deal to me. A lot of favorite things quickly come to mind about Harvie, however, I think my number one is working with farmers to help them sustain successful businesses that preserve and protect the agricultural ecosystem in our region. Family farms are quite complex, and it truly takes some amazing people to make them thrive over time. I love getting the chance to help that happen at Harvie.