Immediately after taking this picture, I picked up the container of figs and transported them to our closest garbage can. Why? Was it because Cassie made some amazing fig pastries last week with cinnamon and sugar (the only inedible part of the pastries were the figs)? No. It was because they were rotten. The bottom of the plastic carton was oozing that liquid-like sludge that can only be understood by picking up multi-week old, forgotten vegetables from the bottom of your crisper. How that fig container even made it into our basket this week is a mystery to me.
Our fig example should help you decide whether a product basket from your local co-op is a good financial decision. We’re not saying its not. We are saying that the last few week’s we haven’t been very impressed with the quality, especially when we consider that our local farmers’ markets are full of produce at a cheaper cost and higher quality. We were warned by some of you that this time of year the co-ops struggle a bit with quality for the money especially when compared to the local produce as I just mentioned. And we have warned you in the past, that even if the figs were top-notch quality, sometimes the selection of produce (take figs for example…<shudder>) may not match your family’s options you would normally purchase from the store.
We thought it would be fun to put our money where our mouth is and try a couple of different options over the next few weeks. We are going to take this $15 and see just how far our local grocery store will take us next week. And then in future week’s we will try some other options as well. The goal is to compare what we can get from these other options (at least during this season – we love our co-op otherwise) and compare who might have the better value plus find the benefits and downfalls of the different options. Plus, if you have some examples of your own (whether co-op, store bought, or local produce) feel free to email us with a picture or just leave a comment. We would love to get as much data over the new few weeks as we seek to find the best value for our dollars in purchasing produce!
With all that said, here’s the list of produce we received this week:
- 1 bunch green (yet somehow partially rotten) bananas
- 5 small cucumbers
- 5 apples
- 4 bartlett pears
- 2 asian pears
- 1 bag green grapes
- 8 assorted sized sweet potatoes
- 5 plums
- 3 avocados
- 1 head broccoli
- 5 rotten figs
- 3 onions
With all of the above, although the avocados were a nice addition, between the figs and bananas, we believe we actually lost money on this basket. We would love to get some feedback from you as well whether your co-op offerings (or other alternatives) have been a great quality and worth your money!
We have also posted this information before, but we wanted to keep posting it in these posts so that everyone reading can have some ideas on how to get involved with a produce coop:
There are many produce co-ops and grocery co op groups and it’s various forms across the nation that you can join and be a part of. A good place to start looking is at a the site localharvest.org (which is going to help you get organic local food) or coopdirectory.org (I am not sure how updated this site is as our area’s listings were old and many not listed, but at least worth a shot!) or search produce co-op your state under google and see what listings come up.
Lacy
Picked up my Bountiful Baskets today for the first time and I was pleased. I look forward to the challenge of different vegetables and fruits. We tend to eat the same things all the time, so we wanted variety. I wouldn’t have bought some of these items ever. I have been on the computer looking for new recipes. I would send a pic but I don’t know how to send it to your site. I did post my pics on my facebook. I am looking forward to your super market comparison. See if you can produce the same or better value. http://facebook.com/lacyjscott
Lacy
Picked up my Bountiful Baskets today for the first time and I was pleased. I look forward to the challenge of different vegetables and fruits. We tend to eat the same things all the time, so we wanted variety. I wouldn’t have bought some of these items ever. I have been on the computer looking for new recipes. I would send a pic but I don’t know how to send it to your site. I did post my pics on my facebook. I am looking forward to your super market comparison. See if you can produce the same or better value. http://facebook.com/lacyjscott
Sakura
Hi, just saw your comment on Money Saving Mom. I live in So. Davis County, and I’ve used several of the different co-op sites around. BB seems to be the most recognized, but there is also the Crossroads Urban Center (once a month but I like it), the Utah co-op ( I’m not a fan) and you can also order a basket from caputos for around $20. I have 2 favorite places to get produce, one is Rancho Markets! Their ad comes out every tuesday and it’s online. They run Tue-Thur specials and Sat-Sun specials. Depending on the week and what you like, you can grab some awesome deals that you’ll never find in a national chain store. The second is Dick’s Market, they put out a coupon for extra things if you get your produce between 7 am and 11 am on saturdays. With the cooler whether approaching I’m going to have to start purchasing produce again 🙁 Hope this helps.
BTW, I’m glad I found your blog. We are in the act of getting out of consumer debt. Our happy dance date is November 2012!!! Keep up the good work!
Sakura
Hi, just saw your comment on Money Saving Mom. I live in So. Davis County, and I’ve used several of the different co-op sites around. BB seems to be the most recognized, but there is also the Crossroads Urban Center (once a month but I like it), the Utah co-op ( I’m not a fan) and you can also order a basket from caputos for around $20. I have 2 favorite places to get produce, one is Rancho Markets! Their ad comes out every tuesday and it’s online. They run Tue-Thur specials and Sat-Sun specials. Depending on the week and what you like, you can grab some awesome deals that you’ll never find in a national chain store. The second is Dick’s Market, they put out a coupon for extra things if you get your produce between 7 am and 11 am on saturdays. With the cooler whether approaching I’m going to have to start purchasing produce again 🙁 Hope this helps.
BTW, I’m glad I found your blog. We are in the act of getting out of consumer debt. Our happy dance date is November 2012!!! Keep up the good work!
Angela Symes
We stopped using our CSA when the veggies and fruit did not match our needs (example: 2 adults + 8 artichokes X 6 weeks = unhappiness). We use the farmer’s market and the Super King grocery store now.
Angela Symes
We stopped using our CSA when the veggies and fruit did not match our needs (example: 2 adults + 8 artichokes X 6 weeks = unhappiness). We use the farmer’s market and the Super King grocery store now.
Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy
I’ve come to the conclusion that for me the best option is the farmers’ market because I can get what I want/need and spend exactly how much I want to spend to get those things. With a CSA or co-op, you have to take what you get as I understand it. Having said that, what you got for $15 there is a lot more than what I could get for $15 at the farmers’ market, even w/o the figs and bananas (not to mention that figs and bananas don’t grow here, so I wouldn’t be able to get them at the market anyway!).
Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy
I’ve come to the conclusion that for me the best option is the farmers’ market because I can get what I want/need and spend exactly how much I want to spend to get those things. With a CSA or co-op, you have to take what you get as I understand it. Having said that, what you got for $15 there is a lot more than what I could get for $15 at the farmers’ market, even w/o the figs and bananas (not to mention that figs and bananas don’t grow here, so I wouldn’t be able to get them at the market anyway!).
Rachel
I pricematch all the local stores at walmart for six bucks I got two pounds of strawberries three pounds bananas three pounds of grapes I have been getting free earthbound carrots and I only buy veggies every other week I spend about 30 a month on produce this way without pricematch the grapes would have been five bucks! Honestly u still have to go puck it up so I personally don’t see the point and can’t afford organic think that’s why it’s more we eat the same stuff banas carrots broccoli bag of potatos few cucumber few inion and a dew cucumber we live watermelon and go through ten pounds or so a week
Rachel
I pricematch all the local stores at walmart for six bucks I got two pounds of strawberries three pounds bananas three pounds of grapes I have been getting free earthbound carrots and I only buy veggies every other week I spend about 30 a month on produce this way without pricematch the grapes would have been five bucks! Honestly u still have to go puck it up so I personally don’t see the point and can’t afford organic think that’s why it’s more we eat the same stuff banas carrots broccoli bag of potatos few cucumber few inion and a dew cucumber we live watermelon and go through ten pounds or so a week