By Anna Nelson –
Getting your groceries delivered might seem like a small convenience, but it’s actually a big deal for our local food system.
When you order from OtterBee’s, you’re skipping the long-haul supply chain. Most food in the U.S. travels an average of 1,500 miles from farm to plate. That means extra fuel, more emissions, and a whole lot of handling in between. In contrast, nearly everything we sell comes from within a 100-mile radius and sometimes a lot closer than that. And when we deliver directly to your door, we’re grouping orders and cutting down on individual car trips to the store. It’s better for the planet and your pantry.
Delivery also makes it easier to support farmers, producers, and foodmakers in our region—the people who are growing and raising food responsibly, without cutting corners. When it’s easier to buy local, more people do. That kind of steady support keeps small operations afloat and helps local food stay local.
So yes, it’s convenient. But it’s also a way to eat more sustainably, invest in your own community, and keep the good stuff flowing… without needing to leave the house.
Where We Deliver
Our weekly delivery routes cover Brookings, Harbor, Pistol River, Gold Beach, and Smith River. We don’t just stop in town—we head up river roads, into hillside neighborhoods, and out to rural areas where grocery delivery is usually hard to come by.
Here’s a general breakdown of the areas we cover:
Brookings & Harbor (Saturday deliveries)
- Up North Bank Chetco River Rd. to Gardner Ridge
- The first stretch of South Bank Chetco River Rd. (before the big curve)
- A couple of miles up Winchuck River Rd.
- Cape Ferrelo, Carpenterville, Dawson Tract, and Harris Heights (both east and west)
- All through Harbor, including Oceanview and Harbor Hills
Pistol River & Gold Beach (Saturday deliveries)
- North to Ophir
- Along North Bank Rd. as far in as Indian Hills subdivision
- Up Jerry’s Flat Rd. to Anglers Trailer Village
- Hunter Creek, including Emerald St. and Mateer Rd.
- Along Hwy 101, including Meyers Creek Rd. and Whaleshead Resort
Smith River & Nearby (Sunday deliveries)
- In-town Smith River homes get Sunday morning delivery (usually by 11:00 am)
- For folks farther out—Oceanview Dr., Ft. Dick, or Crescent City—we’ll bring your order to Smith River United Methodist Church, where you can pick it up:
- Pickups are between 12:30 and 1:00 pm on Sunday
- Please text us at 541-661-1385 before you head over so we know you’re coming
Not sure if your address is within range? Just ask. We’ll usually deliver once and let you know if it’s a good long-term fit. If it’s too far or the road’s too rough, we’ll work with you to find a good pickup option.
When and How It Works
We deliver once a week, year-round (except for a short break over the holidays).
Oregon deliveries (Brookings, Gold Beach, etc.) happen on Saturdays.
Del Norte County deliveries and pickups happen on Sundays.
You don’t need to be home to receive your order. If there’s a chance you’ll be out, just leave a cooler or covered bin outside. We’ll tuck your groceries inside to keep them cool and dry (and safe from critters).
If you prefer to pick up your order, you can stop by our place just north of Brookings at 18821 Montbretia Lane (off House Rock Rd.). Pickups are available any time after 2:00 pm on Saturday. First time? Text or call us and we’ll walk you through it.
Delivery Costs
We keep things simple:
- Orders $25 and up: delivery is just $3 (covers our packing time and delivery driver pay)
- Orders under $25: we tack on an additional $5 delivery fee, making it $8 total
- Pickups: flat $3 handling fee
Want to share delivery with a neighbor? If your combined total is $25 or more, there’s only one $3 delivery fee. Just reach out, and we’ll help you set it up.
Packaging & Reuse
We pack your order in reusable grocery bags. Cold items go in insulated bags, and frozen items are packed in special cold bags that keep things frozen for up to three hours. These bags all get returned with your next order—just leave them out on delivery day.
We also:
- Recycle paper bags, cardboard and egg cartons
- Don’t recycle plastic produce bags (most local grocery stores will)
- Don’t take back the plastic milk bottles—but Alexandre Family Farm does at their store
A Few Extras
We only take two weeks off per year (around Christmas and New Year’s). Otherwise, we’re delivering every Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine.
If you ever have questions about delivery zones, pickup instructions, or how to return your bags, just text us at 541-661-1385. We look forward to bringing delicious, local food to your doorstep soon!
