ABOUT US

CHANGE IS GROWTH…

As we evolve into the next phase, we have decided to rebrand by changing the business name. We are now located in the historic GereBlock27 building (Old Strathmore Paints), where in 1825, just behind us, the original food hub existed on the Erie Canal in Syracuse, NY. As we morph into Syracuse’s future hybrid food hub, we have chosen a name paying homage to its history:

Plum & Mule 

The Plum has a dual purpose: the fruit and the color. Plums were first introduced to the United States through NY. The Prince Family of Flushing, NY, was the largest fruit supplier in the New World. In 1771, they advertised their offerings of 33 varieties of plum trees. This was one of the many staple fruits which traveled throughout the state on the Erie Canal and then out to other states. We consider “the apple” as the main fruit of New York; however, the color plum is the “hybrid” version of purple, and the family of purples holds the meaning we value for our business: uplifting, trust, and reliability.

The Mule is the star of the show. They were used as a major component along the Erie Canal for travel and the delivery of goods. Mules were the backbone of productivity, pulling the packet boats along the travel routes. The image in our logo is from a photo taken around 1883 and printed in the publication American Illustrate, showcased at the Erie Canal Museum. We thank the Erie Canal Museum for granting the permission to use the image.

Please welcome to the Syracuse region, the Plum & Mule Community Market. We look forward to working with our community in the next phase of our venture, providing quality products and services. We will keep you up-to-date on the evolution of Plum & Mule’s commitments throughout this new year. Stay tuned…

Sincerely, 


Plum & Mule Community Market

Company History

In March 2020, this life-changing virus called COVID-19 happened, and with that came all of this uncertainty and doubt about what we would do. With every catastrophe, there is always a silver lining if you look far and deep enough. When it all happened, our community of chefs and farms reached out to each other and tried to brainstorm the next steps. How were we going to survive, how were we going to cope, and how would we move forward? To answer these questions, we decided to rely on our community of farmers and restaurants to put together a game plan to deliver farm fresh food to consumers in the best way possible. It was a reason for the chaos, and in those first couple weeks of COVID, the Eden Fresh Network (dba Plum & Mule Community Market) was born!


In our first couple weeks, we delivered upwards of 500 locally sourced food boxes per week filled with vegetables, meats, eggs, dairy, and value-added products to the residents of Onondaga County, with most patrons living inside the Syracuse city limits. We added more farms, customers, and products as we became busier. During the summer, we added an on-farm dinner series at four farms with 20 people per dinner. As the typical cold Syracuse weather began, these outdoor events were no longer feasible. We started having virtual cooking classes and even a virtual dinner party to celebrate the accomplishments of Eden Fresh Network (dba Plum & Mule). As we kept growing and evolving, we realized there was more potential and a need for more space.

This all grew out of necessity during the pandemic, but after seeing our impact on customers, the farmers, and the community, we knew we needed to be/do something more. We determined there was a greater demand for a business model such as ours to provide food access in a food desert and food access to all. In October 2021, we reassessed our situation and decided to create the Eden Fresh Network, LLC. (dba Plum & Mule). In a sense, we needed to start over with a plan to be there for our community as a whole and grow with the needs and wants of our community. We have moved into our new location on Tipperary Hill, changed our name to Plum & Mule Community Market, and will hopefully launch our in-person market within the next year. 

Our Team

Leah de Rosa

Leah de Rosa has an education and 30-year background in Healthcare/Healthcare Management, including a role as CEO for a nursing registry and a Management Consultant for pediatric offices. Personally shouldering chronic illnesses, she has cultivated a passion and knowledge for ‘Food as Medicine,’ a necessary aspect of achieving a healthier and balanced lifestyle. A mission to ‘buy and support local’ is a guiding motto culminated in combination with Mark Pawliw. With her drive and experience, Leah intends to help make Plum & Mule a formidable force in Central New York.

Mark Pawliw

As founder of Farm-to-Fork 101 and as co-founder of Eden Fresh Network (dba Plum & Mule), Mark has pioneered raising awareness of local farmers and producers in CNY and has built an extensive community around food systems in Syracuse. This includes restaurant owners, chefs, farmers, producers, and many others. His passion and fire were ignited as one of the first undergraduate students in the Food Studies program at Syracuse University. He is our farm ambassador, traveling the CNY region to establish real and online relationships within our local food networks.

Connect With Us

We look forward to serving our local community with fresh and homegrown produce.

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