This is only a portion of it!
It’s been a long while since we have picked up produce from our local produce co-op called Bountiful Baskets. This time, we have bought the most we have ever bought in one time, but for good reason! We were so excited to receive a FREE Vitamix that we had won from Dr. Oz show that we had shared with you and that many of you won as well!
We cannot tell you how ecstatic we were to receive this as we have been saving our Swagbucks for a while to be able to purchase one for FREE or at least a lot less. Because of this HUGE blessing, we were able to spend the saved up Swagbucks for the wheat grinder attachment that goes with the Vitamix so that we can have a complete all-purpose machine!
With that in mind, we have committed to jump starting our healthier eating plan by drinking whole food smoothies at least twice a day as meal replacements for one month and then we continue to plan to eat healthier and continue to change our lifestyle even more in the coming months and years! We make our smoothies to be half fruit and half veggies and so we need A LOT of fruits and veggies which means that much of our budget is dedicated to that fresh produce.
So after a few months hiatus from purchasing from our coop (we’ve just been hitting the produce sales and markdowns at our local stores), we decided to go for the gusto and order and organic basket for $25, a Mexican pack for $8.50 and a citrus pack for $14 for a total of $47.50 spent on fresh produce this week.
Check out the next three pictures to find out what $47.50 of fresh produce from a coop looks like:
Keep in mind that this picture contains all organic produce for $25:
- 1 organic Pineapple
- 1 organic Bok Choy
- 1 pint of organic Blueberries
- 2 organic Lemons
- 1 bunch organic broccoli
- 1 bunch organic cilantro
- 1 head of organic cauliflower
- 1 bunch of red organic chard
- 1 pack of organic Romaine lettuce
- 2 organic mangoes
- 2 organic Red Peppers
- 6 organic tomatoes
- 4 organic green apples
- 1 bunch organic bananas
Here’s the Mexican Pack (we have been LOVING making our own guacamole in our Vitamix!). This pack is not organic and cost $8.50:
- 10 Avocados
- 4 Jalapeno Peppers
- 2 Lemons
- 1 Bunch Green Onions (Don’t forget about the evergrowing green onion!)
- 1 Bunch Cilantro
- 1 Garlic
- 2 Yellow Onions
Finally, our box of mixed Citrus fruits contained the following for $14:
- 2 Pummelos
- 1 3-lb bag of clementines
- 4 lemons
- 8 Minneolas
- Mixture of 20 large and small oranges
So for $47.50, we think that this really was a great value this week and we are excited to keep eating/drinking our fresh fruits and veggies! What do you think? Did we get a good deal? Leave a comment and let us know (and be entered automatically into our comment giveaway)!
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.
See more of Our Shopping Trip Results
Debbie
The produce looks great. Those mangos are huge!
thriftycas
We were really excited about the organic pineapple and mangoes! They are expensive in the store right now and they are just so YUMMY!!
Have you tried Bountiful Baskets Debbie?
Roberta Cincotti
We have a few CSA’s in out area but they are pricey and you don’t get nearly as much as you did. That is fantastic and a really nice assortment.
linden
Our CSAs don’t give the same variety or good value. Also, I end up feeling like I have to cram things down in order to get them eaten before they get soft…
Debi Booth
I really wanted the Vitamix from the Dr.Oz giveaway. I am happy to have won the vaccum cleaner,but still haven’t received it. Hope it is still coming! Just looking at your pictures of the fruits and veggies make me feel healthier…lol I have thought about joining a coop and your post is inspiring me to check into doing so. Maybe you could post some of your recipes…that would be great…Congrats on the Vitamix and the healthy eating…*~*
Elyse M.
That’s pretty good. I got the following at our farmer’s market for $12:
– 1 bunch broccoli
– 3 large tomatoes
– 4 pink lady apples
– 1 avocado
– 1 head romaine lettuce
– 1 bunch celery
– 2 large zucchini
– 2 yellow squash
– 4 kiwi
Lisa Garrett
I used to live in California where they grow alot of that stuff and never knew how expewnsive it could be til I moved to the East Coast that is an aweome deal you all found. Keep up the great job!!!!
Dawn
You did great! You would had paid much more at the supermarket and the quality would not be as good. Also you saved more than if you went to the Farmers Market. I followed your link and surprisingly I found co-ops in my area! I will be checking them out. Thanks for the info & keep up the great work 🙂
leslie
Wow! You did really well!
Rachel O.
A great deal overall, but I’m especially impressed with the Mexican Pack. I’m excited if I get 10 avocados at the store for under $10, much less packaged with everything else you got for the low, low price of $8.50! Nice job!
Tammy Willaimson
I wasn’t so impressed with the first pic until I read it was organic…the other look great too~ enjoy your healthful living!
Gloria
WOW, Great savings!
Ashley
Congrats on the Vitamix win. My mom and mother in law both LOVE theirs! I won a year supply of fish oil supplements from Dr. Oz, AND I actually received them! I have also won and receive the weight watchers cookbook from a Dr. Oz giveaway. My advice to the world: whenever Dr. Oz has any type of giveaway, DO IT! It’s actually possible to win awesome things.