When we lived in Missouri, there was a food co-op organized by one of the local churches but they mostly ordered boxed type goods – cereals, mixes, flours, pudding mixes, etc. After a bit of searching, I found a co-op here that mostly orders fresh, organic vegetables and fruits. If we lived near a larger city, or even where there was an HEB or similar type grocery store with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, I’d be so happy . . but there are advantages to small towns so I’m not complaining . . until I go to the grocery store.
Speaking of fresh fruits and veggies, do you wonder how young families or those on very tight budgets are making it these days? Every time I buy fruits and vegetables, or meat or milk for that matter, I get really frustrated at the continued escalating of my grocery bill. Do you ever notice the groceries those around you in line are purchasing? I’m not judgment and there was a time in my life when I probably had a lot of the same things in my cart and I survived. Last week there was a young mom checking out in front of me at the grocery store and her cart was full of packaged meals, chips, cookies . . I didn’t see any fresh vegetables or fruit. It’s a heck of lot less expensive to buy those kinds of things instead of fruits and vegetables. But . . who knows the whole story! Maybe she had jars and jars of home canned veggies at her house and she didn’t need to buy anything like that!
Back to the co-op — yesterday my first order arrived. We have a choice of getting either a large or small veggie box and/or a large or small fruit box. There are all kinds of other things we can order too. I had ordered extra blueberries and extra lettuce. After not having any home grown lettuce for over a year, I was so thrilled with the lettuce! That’s not photoshopped lettuce . . that’s exactly how it looks!
In the fruit box, I had avocados, several kinds of apples, oranges, several kinds of pears, lemons, and grapefruit. There may have been other things I don’t remember.
In the veggie box, the things I remember are celery, carrots, baby baker potatoes, small sweet potatoes, artichokes, collard greens, broccolini, cilantro, cabbage, sweet red bell peppers, onions, cherry tomatoes, Romaine hearts . . and I can’t remember what else. You may see some things in the pictures I haven’t mentioned.
I had never seen the little baby baker potatoes and they’re so cute. I love baked potatoes but they’re so huge. Most of the time Vince and I split one but these little things are perfect for individual baked potatoes for those of us trying to cut back. It’s hard to tell in the picture but the cauliflower is a normal size. Both the baking potatoes and sweet potatoes are tiny.
The cabbage is huge so you can see how big these red peppers are . . the biggest ones I’ve ever seen!
Before you ask, I’ll do another post about what we do with all these fruits and vegetables. Til I can get my garden going, and maybe even as a supplement to the garden, it’s so nice to be able to get such a nice variety of fresh fruits and veggies.
Karin says
oh, I can see some ‘salads in a jar’ coming! I have been asking my hubby for one of those foodsavers so I can jar up some of my own things like salads. He is too cheap though, I guess I have to save up for it on my own 😛
Diana in TX says
Karin,
Get the hand held one and then the attachment for the widemouth jars. That’s all I use when making the salad in a jar. Leave the big foodsaver on the pantry shelf.
Roberta says
How often do you get the boxes Judy??? Things look lovely!!!!!!!
Hugs!!!!
Leo says
piping in for the young generation … there are still some left that buy vegetables and fruits and bottled milk and raw potatoes and grain … But you are right it’s hard if you have a tigh budget the only tip I can give is buy according to the season. Tomatoes are well you don’t want to know what they cost in winter but all sorts of cabbages are cheap and there is so much you can do with them. Same goes for onions and potatoes and carrots.
And yes I do make jams and pickles and my bread .. that way I can afford local and/or organic products.
It is worrying me that I sometimes have to pay more for the basic ingredients than I would pay for a ready meal.
Michelle says
I’m so jealous! I’ve been looking for one of these co-ops but I just didn’t know if we could use it all up. I’m anxious to see what you do with the “extras”
Peggy says
Everything looks so good. We are feeling the pinch of the prices going up at the grocery store. Two weeks ago we bought 1 lb of carrots that were skinny and my husband and I could eat all of them in one meal for $1.59. I had bought earlier in the year a 5 lb bag of cleaned carrots for $3.59. We only lost one carrot.
All I can say is I am thankful we canned and froze so much a few years ago. We have a freezer so we buy meat when on sale. Thank goodness we have plenty of fish we caught over the last few years. I really want some beef roast or even tougher steaks. I would not buy either earlier this week because the cost was high and the quality poor.
Michelle says
My optomistic guess is that they might shop at more than one place and you only see a fragment of their whole diet…at least that’s what I hope!
Debbie B says
It all looks so good and fresh! Lucky you! Enjoy!!!
Debbie R. says
I have sometimes “worried” people would judge me by one shopping trip… I buy meat at one place… And most of the major shopping at another … in-between I do the “extras” and that trip would look a little suspect!!!
pdudgeon says
Judy, i think you’ve struck gold. that looks like some mighty fine fruit and veggies.
Hilary McDaniel says
Do they go to a large grocery store? Our artichokes are just now forming heads. That co-op looks like the answer to your needs. Hubby and I have planted over a hundred kinds of plants the last 2 days. We’re exhausted but will be so glad when the harvest starts coming.. Have you had apple and lemon chukes..We planted all sorts of different things this year..
Sandy says
The produce really looks fresh and tasty. Sometimes I see people buying the packages of cut up apples, etc which are outrageously overpriced. You pay $ 2.50 for a few ounces when you could buy a small BAG of fresh apples. How hard is it to cut up fruit? The co-op is a smart way to shop.
Katherine says
I wondered if people would look at my cart funny yesterday, when I was picking up a few things for us and then snacks for a dozen teen age boys for a 3 day competition. So, things like 2 yogurts and eggs and bagels for us, plus 4 bags of chips and 3 packs of cookies. I also split up my shopping based on what’s available and good priced at different stores, so I’ll often hit 2 different stores when I do my shopping.
Robin says
OOOH yummy!! 🙂
Deputy's Wife says
That’s awesome Judy!!! As a mother of three healthy eating boys… let me tell you… our grocery bill gets worse by the month. The only prepared food I buy is frozen pizza (for when dad is cooking supper… ha!), some canned soups, and the occasional frozen french fries. Tonight my grocery check out was $289. And I don’t even bother with coupons. Most of them are for prepared foods I never buy. A good portion of my cart is filled with fresh vegetables and meat. Since I am focusing on healthy eating for our family, the cost has gone up for us even more. Drives me crazy!
Diana in TX says
I see you have a Saturday morning farmers market in Brownwood. Saw it listed in the Hill Country magazine.
Karla says
We order from the co-op too but since we are moving we decided to wait until the move was done before getting any more fruits and veggies. They do give a large variety of things and we have loved having the fresh produce.
CJ says
People nearly always look at my cart funny, and 99% of the time the checkout person will make a comment on it. I buy most things in bulk, ship much of it in, I tend to buy in groups. I find rotation easier for me if I purchase say, a one year supply of peanut butter. I simply use it all up, then go buy another years worth, so my trips to the store are often for a large quantity of one or two items.
Kathryn (Kasey) Woodfin says
The fruits and veggies are gorgeous! I’m really looking forward to your post about what you do with them. We subscribe to a local service that delivers organic produce to your door. Sounds similar to yours. We get a “small” box of fruits and veggies every other week. I use the term “small” loosely – it’s more than enough for our household (two people). I have to be very careful to use all the lovely produce we receive and sometimes I’m at a loss for ideas. I know from your posts that you like to cook so I’m really anxious to see what you come up with.
Deb says
Man, how in the world do you EAT all of that? We rarely buy boxed anything, eat a lot of salads, but almost always throw away more food then we eat. (We need chickens..!) It is really SAD, but since we too are on a diet, we are supposed to cut back on VOLUME. When the hub doesnt cook, (since I hate it, but can make Chili, or soup or something!) I eat again, half of what we normally eat, and find it to be just FINE. We do have to get a jar canner and try the canned salads, that would help a lot. Anyway, that seems like a bunch of food for 2. (but again, you cook!)
JudyL says
I guess it surprises me that folks are surprised that we can eat 8 apples, 8 pears, 4 avocados, 3 oranges and 2 grapefruit in two weeks! We both eat at least two, often four, pieces of fruit per day so that’s at least 30 fruits per week. Cutting back on volume is one thing but I sure hope you’re not cutting back on fruits and vegetables.
barbara says
kids shouldn’t even be eating those chips and cookies. besides costing more than healthy foods, that money really would be be better spent on fresh foods like apples dipped in peanut butter for snacks. many of us have been there and wanted our kids to have treats, but we know so much more about nutrition today. so many kids are already diabetics it’s scary! that’s why the government is giving out peanut butter and not ding-dongs. (have you ever looked at the ingredient list on that stuff? my rule is: if i can’t say it i don’t buy it!)
buy it when it’s cheap and freeze it or can it is the rule.
Alycia says
Mmmm you make me want to go plant my garden…. We don’t buy meat at all in the store and I have to eat Gluten free… so the checkers will note that everything is gf – and then there is one bag of oreo’s, or donuts – and they say – You know this isn’t GF right? And the boys get so defensive … they are like… Come on Man – give us something LOL
barbara woods says
that’s why i love having a garden every year and live off of our canning and stuff in our frezzer
myrna sosner says
It is such a great opportunity to have a source for fresh produce. Our local Boys & Girls Club has orgainzed a food co-op for EBT card users (food stamps) and all members of the community. Twice a month for $15 we get an assortment of fruit and Veggies similar to Judy’s and for an additional $15, meat. I don’t get the meat, but can testify that the fruit & veggie share is a great help for my partner and me. We love it and it is also a good thing for the young members of the club.