PANAMA CITY — Bay County resident Phyliss Mortz left the parking lot of Free Spirit Community Church with 80 pounds of chicken in her car Wednesday morning.
The hefty meat purchase was the result of an hour-long event hosted by Spokane, Washington-based Zaycon Foods, a company that sells farm-fresh meats at wholesale prices directly from its supply trucks.
For Mortz, who runs an organic produce co-op out of her home, it wasn’t necessarily the lower price — the chicken breast sold in 40-pound boxes at $1.99 per pound — that drew her in; it was the quality of the meat.
“To me, it’s knowing it’s good meat that’s not full of antibiotics,” Mortz said. “They’re not organic, but they’re natural.”
At a Zaycon “event,” customers meet the Zaycon truck at a given location and can purchase large quantities of the meat provided, usually a few types at every event. The business model cuts out the middle man, allowing Zaycon to sell the product directly to consumers.
For Mortz, the events offer the opportunity to stock up her three freezers, where she houses dozens of pre-made meals to pull out for an easy dinner here and there.
The company hosts events in the Panama City area about once a month, with the next scheduled for March 24, featuring patio steaks, smoked pulled pork, all-beef hot dogs and Polish kielbasa sausage. The event already has sold out of chuck roast online.
“Every month, we offer a different product,” said Zaycon driver Kelen Efta, who greeted and fulfilled orders for customers in the church parking lot Wednesday. “Chicken as a whole is a big one; that’s our number one seller. Ground beef and bacon are pretty popular, too.”
As a driver, Efta works three to five events daily in different locations, and the company is continuing to grow due to high demand for the products. Zaycon now hosts events in all of the lower 48 states.
Mortz found out about the company on social media through Preparedness Pro, a blog dedicated to emergency preparedness, including food preparation and cooking.
“All of our advertising is by customers through word of mouth and social media,” Efta said. “It’s really good stuff.”