While looking for local produce in their hometown of Sandwich, Illinois, Scott Dickinson and his wife, Sarena, discovered they could find only sweet corn. Wishing to expand their choices, they broadened their search and located a farm growing organic food about 20 minutes away.
After joining the farm’s Community Supported Agriculture program, the Dickinsons learned how hard the farmers worked to grow fine vegetables and deliver them weekly in Chicagoland. Scott also continued driving to other local farms for fruit, honey and meats.
He soon recognized he could combine that pursuit with his professional background in distribution and transportation to bring local, organic and clean food straight from the farm to homes.
The seed for Natural Direct defined itself, found fertile soil and grew. In 2008, the business welcomed Sidney Siegel, a longtime foodie who had been operating Oakville Organics, a Highland Park–based home-delivery business. Together, Scott and Sidney realized that Natural Direct could widen its reach by distributing to restaurants and grocery stores.
Today…
we deliver products from 39 local producers to more than 300 Chicagoland locations. Our goal remains the same as it was the day that we opened: to work as partners with family farms and small producers to provide our local communities with the Midwest’s healthiest and highest-quality foods.
