Marlena and Shawn Ballinger took over The Dough Hook in 2013 from her parents when they retired.

"We did it because I wanted the business to stay in the family. I saw the work that mom and dad put into the business and I wanted to take the seed that they planted and make it grow,' said Marlena.

The Ballingers have recently begun taking orders for Fresh Food Boxes, which customers pick up at the store on Tuesdays. They do make up a few extra boxes to sell to walk-in customers. Here, Marlena explains their unique approach to to serving the local community.

1. What prompted your interest in selling fresh produce?

What prompted me to do the Fresh Food Boxes was a couple of things. I've been hearing a lot of information about farming co-ops and people joining them to receive a box of produce each week. Then, I was talking to a family member and she told me about a company who delivered produce boxes to her work last year. I also did some research and found that we are smack dab in the middle of a "food desert." Allen County, Putnam County and a portion of Hardin county are considered "food deserts" according to my research.

2.) What has been in the boxes so far? Will there be fruit or just vegetables?

The boxes so far have contained fruits, vegetables and brown eggs...which is the mixture that we will try to hit each week. Last week the boxes contained cabbage, broccoli, zucchini, cucumbers, apples, strawberries, carrots, green onions, onion, potatoes, brown eggs, green beans, red bell pepper and a yellow bell pepper.

6.) What has been your customers' response?

The customer response has been phenomenal! Just to give you an idea...the first week we made up five Fresh Food Boxes to see how it would go. This week we sold 40! Which is a testament to the need for fresh food in our area.

7.) How many boxes do you plan to sell each week and/or could that increase depending on response?

We currently take orders for the boxes each week...then we get enough produce to fill the orders and to make a few additional boxes.

8.) What is the cost? Discount on bringing own container? When are they available?

Each Fresh Food Box costs $16; if people bring their own container to put the produce in we knock $1 off (making them $15.) The boxes will be available for pickup each Tuesday after noon.

9.) Do you hope to do this year round?

My vision is to do this year round. I would like to be the company that delivers Fresh Food Boxes to other area organizations. I currently have a proposal into a company to deliver a minimum of five boxes to each branch of their organization. As for filling the food boxes, I understand that we will have to look at produce that comes from other states in order to provide people with produce in the winter months.

10.) Any thoughts about what could happen during the local growing season?

I understand that sales may dip in the summer when people begin growing their own produce. But maybe I can partner with some of the local growers from the farmer's market to create boxes for people who maybe can't get to the farmer's market. I also plan to put out a large garden this year to help fill some of the boxes. Part of the idea behind these boxes is to take the guess work out of getting your produce.)

In the summer we will be looking into local farmers that could meet our demands for fruits, vegetables and brown eggs. We place an effort on the freshness of each piece and I would like to try to keep things as local as possible while staying within a specific price point.

11.) Any additional comments?

I am currently talking to the Allen County Economic Development Group. I would like to get a grant to possibly purchase a vehicle to distribute boxes to villages located in the food desert. I made the connection with Eric Davis (who is also a regular customer) while at the Bluffton Chamber meetings and we've been emailing back and forth. I'm hoping he can help me connect with grant opportunities. I really think there is a need out there and I'm hoping to be able to help. My vision is to choose a day each week to go to different communities (like Columbus Grove, Leipsic, Lima) and either sell or deliver the food boxes to people. My hang up is how to connect with these people to let them know what I'm doing. The more I think of this...the more I'm realizing that this can only grow.