Amy asked me to give a little more information about the produce co-op that we are trying to start, just letting everyone know what is involved. I have been a member of a co-op in Provo for 2 years. Even though we moved to Cedar Hills 18 months ago, I continue to drive to Provo twice a month to get produce, as it is such a great deal! Here's how it works:*We form a co-op (The Cedars Co-op) with 24 members in it. Each member commits to pay $35.00 every 2 weeks, and to help with the work involved.
*Every 2 weeks, we place an order for produce, using the total amount of money from everyone in the co-op. Because we are buying such a large amount of produce, we are able to get it directly from the wholesaler at WHOLESALE prices.
*On Thursday of co-op week, we get a call in the morning notifying us of the time of truck arrival. We will have a telephone tree set up to make calls & inform everyone in the group of the pick-up time.
*Each week, 3-4 people arrive at the drop-off location when the truck arrives. They divide the produce among the laundry baskets of the 24 co-op members. Everyone takes turns sorting the produce, on a rotating schedule. You MUST be available to help sort when it is your turn! The rest of the co-op members arrive about 45 minutes later to pay and pick up their baskets of produce. You must be available to come pick up your basket.
Being in a co-op like this has many benefits. The most obvious one is that you get a great variety of produce at a GREAT price. The amount of produce received each time fluctuates, naturally, due to variations in the prices. However, you will always get more produce for less than what you would pay at the store, and since it comes directly from the wholesaler, it is fresh!
Another benefit is that we eat many more fruits & vegetables. Because my fridge is literally packed with fruits & vegetables, at mealtime it is easy to come up with lots of healthly options. For the first few days after produce delivery, my fruit bowl is piled high, and my children are as likely to reach for fruit as anything else.
I also like that when the produce comes, it saves me a trip to the store for fruits & vegetables. I feel like this actually saves me money since I don't end up with all the other things that would I see and buy on impulse!
You may be concerned about whether or not your family will like, and be able to eat, everything that you receive. I had this concern, too, and worried that I wouldn't want to eat things that someone else had picked out. However, we have been introduced to a variety of foods that we'd never had before, and most of the time, I'm able to find a recipe that we like that includes our produce! For example, I had never bought kale in my life. But now I know many ways to use it, and most of my kids will even eat it when prepared certain ways. (Don't worry, you won't be getting kale on a regular basis). With the internet, you are able to find tons of recipes to use any ingredient. If there is something you really won't use, you can always try to find someone in the co-op to trade with. And even if you have to give something away occasionally, chances are you'll still be spending less for what you use than you would in a store.
Here are some samples of what the co-op I'm in received during a typical week:
(this is NOT a guarantee of anything!)
June 12 order
1 watermelon
1 cantaloupe
8-10 apples
2 bunches bananas
2 pound bag of grapes
4 red peppers
3 cucumbers
3 bunches of broccoli
1 head of cauliflower
celery
green onions
2 pound bag mini carrots
2 heads of red-leaf lettuce
1 bag of spinach
1 pound container of raspberries
1 pound container of strawberries
Another order from March:
8-10 apples
2 lbs asparagus
1 bunch bananas
3 bunches broccoli
1 head Napa cabbage
1 head cauliflower
celery
2 bunches cilantro
4 cucumbers
4 ruby red grapefruit
2 lbs grapes
1 head romaine lettuce
3 portobello mushrooms
3 onions
8 cara-cara oranges
6-8 anjou pears
1 pineapple
We will be able to get this co-op started as soon as we have 24 solid members in our group. Once we have reached 24, we will put additional names on a waiting list in case anyone drops out.
If you are interested, here's what you need to do to get a spot in the group:
Get me a check for $50, your email address, and phone number(s). (Paige Beal, 3979 Troon, Cedar Hills, 763-7220). This money will cover the cost of 2 laundry baskets, with $35 of it as a deposit to hold your place in the group. I will not cash any of the checks until we have all 24, at which time we will begin ordering!
