I Joined a Produce Co-op!

Several months ago I found out about the Bountiful Baskets program on Facebook. A gal in my area was wanting to set up a drop-off site so people around here could participate.

Bountiful Baskets is a fruit and vegetable co-op. You make a “donation” to receive a “basket” of produce. I say “donation” because, since they are a non-profit, they can’t really sell things, so instead of buying a basket (which is what you are really doing), it is called making a donation. I say “basket” because you don’t really get a basket, you have to bring your own containers to haul your produce home in.

Check out these super cool canvas bags I got to haul my produce! They have a healthy message and everything!

They got a drop-off set up in my area in January. It has been the coolest program! We get a “basket” every two weeks. Our site has its pick up on Saturday morning.

In addition to your “basket,” there are usually several add-ons you can choose from. I once got the Italian add-on which included an eggplant, mushrooms, garlic, a bunch of fresh herbs, and more!

I got the Mexican add-on which included a gray squash, lemons, limes, cilantro, jalapeno peppers, pablano peppers, and more.

The Italian add-on.

This is a “juice pack” add-on. I don’t juice, but I’ll eat this stuff!

I split a 40 lb box of navel oranges with my sister. These are sooo good!

Multi-pack of bread.

Here are some pictures of the “baskets” which are different every time.

Look at all of that luscious produce! This is the “basket” and the Italian add-on.

The very cool thing is that you “donate” (order) online and you don’t have to “donate” every time. If you are going to be gone when they do the drop-off, you don’t have to get a “basket” that time. Or you can have someone else pick up your basket. I frequently get my sisters’ baskets for them (they have kids).

The bad thing is that the program has become very popular and they only have 95 baskets available. So you have to be fast on “donation” days! For our site, you can start to “donate” at 10 am the Monday before the pick-up. The past few times the baskets have been gone by 1 pm on Monday! Lucky for me my work schedule has been pretty lax lately so I’ve had Mondays off.

Are you part of a food co-op? Tell me all about it!

Happy eating!