WEB EXCLUSIVE: Delivery and meal prep services gain popularity in Yuma

Local meal prep service encourages healthy eating during self-isolation

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY)- A changing economy means new opportunities especially for delivery services through apps such as Instacart and Grubhub.

Services like UberEats, Grubhub, DoorDash, Instacart, Shipt, and a list of other delivery services are in high demand for customers who may be elderly, ill, or even those who just prefer to maintain total social distancing out of fear of contracting the COVID-19 coronavirus.

There have been a record number of downloads for grocery delivery service apps in March. 

According to data from Apptopia, an independent research firm that analyzes the app marketplace, Instacart, Walmart Grocery and Shipt see their daily app downloads surge by 218 percent, 160 percent, and 124 percent, respectively, compared to February levels. 

Brick-and-mortar grocery stores which unlike restaurants have been deemed essential by state officials are seeking to keep up with demand as well.

"Once everything got to a point to where everybody was ordering groceries, it definitely changed you would see no less than five batches available, and all you had to do is refresh your phone and all of a sudden there'd be five more.”, says Gwynn Jones who has been a driver for Instacart in Yuma since before the pandemic.

"There have definitely been a lot more drivers that have recently signed up, whether it's because they're out of work and they're looking for some ways to still make income."

However, with the increasing demand, there has also been a decrease in supplies at grocery stores.

"There is there's definitely a lack of supplies out there and sometimes it's not even just your basics like toilet paper and things like that."

Gwynn says the company she drives for, Instacart does a good job in making sure the order is as sanitary as possible.

Regarding safety and cleanliness, Jones says the company she works for, Instacart, takes the proper precautions to make sure its drivers are safe.

“They've told us too that they are going to start implementing a wellness check when you first login in the morning, it's going to ask you 'hey how are you feeling today or you know is today a good day for you to shop', and they are recommending you know to take your temperature use your face masks, they've implemented contactless delivery, where has before you would knock on the door and wait for someone to answer now they have the option to leave it at my door.”

As the number of days spent at home adds up, health experts say so does your weight.

Jonathan Palacio is the owner of A Cut Above a meal preparation service in Yuma that has been operating the business for six years. Altogether, he has been in the restaurant business for 20 years serving in some of the best restaurants in the region.

“Definitely I feel like now more than ever, people are taking their health a little bit more seriously,” says Jonathan.

“Thankfully, I have always been able to get certain produce without a problem, since I am lucky enough to be blessed with all these vegetables. I want to make it readily available to the public.”

Jonathan is always striving to set records for himself, on average the number of orders in a given week is in the hundreds.

“One week we did about 600 orders just because we had to do a private event for one of my premium clients."

Jonathan's weekly menu can be found on his social media sites.

He will also be releasing an app for his customers in the coming weeks.