Food Co-op

[runamyrun]

Several of you have probably already heard about this, but I want to let everyone know how great of a deal it is. There is a community food co-op in Utah, and there are about 37 different locations to pick up the food. Their website is [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] and you can find more information there.

Each month you decide what share of food you want. You either call, fax, or mail in your order. Near the end of the month they distribute all of the food. You go to your location (in Tooele it is the St. Barnabas church), sign in, tell them how many service hours you completed that month, and then they help you take your food out to your car. You are required to do at least two hours of service each month and that can include your church calling or volunteering at school.

We have loved doing this because we get to try food that I wouldn't have normally bought, and we get lots of produce. The price is awesome, too! I am not much of a meat eater, so I wasn't buying very many different kinds of meat. My poor family! Now we get several different kinds of meat and my family has loved it. I have a lot of fun looking up new recipes to cook the food that we get.

Here is an example of the harvest share for last month:
5 lb bag of potatoes
16 oz rice
2 16 oz bags of mini carrots
6 fuji apples
6 pears
6 navel oranges
1 bunch of broccoli
3 artichokes
1 bunch of green onions
2 bunches romaine lettuce
loaf of Stone Grounds wheat bread

It cost us $14.


Next month's order form:
Standard share $21.00
2 lbs. chicken breasts
4-4oz. cube steaks
4-5oz. pork chops bone in
1 lb. lean ground beef
fresh fruits (3 varieties)
fresh vegetables (5 varieties)
stone grounds whole wheat bread
16 oz. dried yellow split peas


Half share $13
2 lbs. chicken breasts
1 lb. lean ground beef
fresh fruits (3 varieties)
fresh vegetables (4 varieties)
stone grounds whole wheat bread
16 oz. dried yellow split peas


Harvest share $14
fresh fruits (3 varieties)
fresh vegetables (6 varieites)
stone grounds whole wheat bread
16 oz. dried yellow split peas


farmers market share $13.50
fresh vegetables (6 varieties)
fresh herbs for planting or cooking


add ons
nutty guys snack sampler 11.50
colosimo kielbasa sausage 3.25
1 lb. sliced bacon 2.25
stone grounds german rye 2.00

Each month my family orders one standard share and one harvest share. We love having so many fresh fruits and vegetables. Can you tell that I love it?

If any of you have questions, let me know.

[bookworm]

Amy, thank you for sharing this! What a great idea~

[Meticulous madness]

I heard about this in late 2007 and I've been meaning to give it a try - but I keep putting it off. Every time I feel serious about placing an order I pull up the link and find that I've just missed the cut-off by a day or two.

Anyway, I'm especially glad to hear that you have actually done it and enjoy the products. Do you do it every month?

I wasn't aware of anybody around here (that I know) doing it - so now I will be more diligent in actually following through. You've motivated me.

[5ft Diva]

Amy, would you mind telling me the benefits you've seen for your family since starting on this?

[runamyrun]

For one thing, my kids are becoming more adventurous with eating. They had never eaten artichokes until we got them from the food co-op. They LOVED them! We have also had a lot more variety with meat and they have loved that too. I feel like the price is awesome for the quantity of food I get. And, when I get home from picking up my food, I like to put the fruit on my counter. It helps us remember to eat more fruit, and it has been yummy. I feel like we eat healthier because I make sure we use those fruits and veggies.

M&M, we have only been doing it for the past three months. Last month when I went to pick up our food, it was a lot busier than it had been the past two months. I heard someone say that the membership in Tooele had really increased last month and that it was almost double. I don't know if that was true or not, but it was a lot busier. The more people that sign up, the better. The prices are lower because they are buying in bulk. So the more people sign up, the more food they can get for that price.

[Meticulous madness]

Okay so, RAR, if I decide to do this for June - can I be a baby and just ask...

Would you mind if I went over there with you to the pick up location? I've discovered that my reason for being hesitant about it is because I've been intimidated for some reason. Can I tag along with you?

I'm glad to hear that the service is being used more in Tooele!

[runamyrun]

Of course you can come with me. I was intimidated to go by myself the first time. It will be fun to go with you. Now don't forget to order by June 13th!

[5ft Diva]

I'd love to hear about your experience, MM.

[Meticulous madness]

Thanks for the reminder, RAR! I will aim to place the order on Monday.

And Diva, I will (for sure) report back. I'm really excited about it, actually - because I've wanted to do it for so long.

I'm really glad you posted this, RAR!

[missypoohsticks]

Thank you for posting this RAR!! This is awesome and I had no idea it even existed. I have a question though, if we were to use DH service hours, would he have to pick up the food?? I am definitely going to do this!

[Mamallama]

Thanks for sharing RAR---I just might want to give this a try----but would want to tag along too to have someone show me the ropes.

[Meticulous madness]

Hey MPS - you know that your "scouts" volunteer hours would work, right?

Unless I misunderstood your question - then just ignore me. It's late.

Anyway - I think you guys should join us for sure, MPS and ML (and anybody else who is curious)! I think it would be a great thing to do all together. Every event can be turned into a party, in my book (if you haven't already guessed).

[missypoohsticks]

I did know that my hours could be used, I was just curious about how it would work with my DH hours.

[runamyrun]

I have seen people pick up food for others, and after I had my baby my DH picked up the food. So you could probably put the food order in your husband's name and tell them how many hours he volunteered. I don't think it would matter who picked up the food.

ML and MPS, if you want to go with us, that would be great! The more the merrier!

[Meticulous madness]

Okay, I got my food order in on time this month and I'm very excited about the pick-up. In fact, I'm a little frustrated that it's so far out. heehee.

Just curious...did any of you other ladies (who were somewhat interested) end up ordering for this month?

[missypoohsticks]

I did place an order, and I'm excited to see how it goes!

[Dia Minha]

I wanted to and completely forgot. I'll have to catch it next month.

[runamyrun]

The food co-op has posted what food is available next month. I am excited! We LOVE salmon!


Standard share $21
2 lbs chicken drumsticks
1 lb wild caught salmon fillets
1 lb boneless beef ribs
1 lb ground beef
3 fresh fruits
5 fresh vegetables
16 oz rice
whole wheat bread



Half share $14
2 lbs chicken drumsticks
1 lb wild caught salmon fillets
3 fresh fruits
4 fresh vegetables
16 oz rice
whole wheat bread


Harvest share $14
3 fresh fruits
6 fresh vegetables
16 oz rice
whole wheat bread

Farmer's market share $13.50
6 fresh vegetables
fresh herbs

addons
nutty guy sampler $11.50 1lb each of butter toffee peanuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, almonds
colosimos hot italian sausage $3.25
5 hand made beef tamale with red chili $5
17 oz. evvo $5

[Meticulous madness]

Yum. We love salmon, too!

Two questions...

Does anybody know a good way to get the fishy smell out of your home, after cooking? That's the only downside for us at this point. Seems to linger forever.

And does anybody have some good drumstick tips and/or recipes? I think I've literally only bought and prepared them once in my married life, and didn't like the end result.

I know we're a long way out - since we haven't even received June's stuff yet, but just thought I'd throw my questions out there.

[runamyrun]

I have actually never cooked drumsticks. But I like to look at [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] to find yummy recipes for food I have never cooked.