Yesterday I wrote about Bountiful Baskets, the co-op I use for buying produce. You can find Part One here.
Today I’ll share more details about the actual produce baskets and the participation level that works best for my family. You can choose the participation level that suits you — contribute regularly, occasionally, or try it once and see how you like it.
What’s in the Bountiful Baskets Produce Basket?
Most of the year I usually order one Conventional basket and add one or more add-ons. Now that summer is here and the kids are home, I’ve adjusted my plan to meet increased demand.
Right now I get two produce baskets — one Conventional ($15) and one Organic ($25) — plus add-on items. You might wonder why I don’t simply order two Conventional baskets to save money. When I get two Conventional baskets I receive the same items in double quantities. I prefer one Conventional and one Organic for the variety of produce I receive. The variety keeps meals and snacks more interesting.
The flexibility of the Bountiful Baskets model lets me pick what works best for my family each time I participate.
Here’s a breakdown of my May 26 distribution. I spent $92.25 total, which included $3.50 in handling and fuel charges. I usually try to stay between $50 and $75, but the add-ons were too good to pass up that week.
Although the total may seem high, my family eats a lot of produce — especially fruit — and this haul generally lasts us about two weeks. I also freeze a good portion for smoothies or baking and share extras with friends.
$15.00 – Conventional produce basket. This was a large selection: 6 bananas, 1 bag green grapes, 12 Gala apples, 1 clamshell blackberries, 5 tomatoes (organic), 1 bundle asparagus, 2 heads red leaf lettuce (one was a thank-you for volunteering), 3 orange peppers, 3 heads broccoli, 2 heads celery, 3 yellow squash, and 5 white onions. All for $15.
$17.00 – Flat of blueberries — twelve 6 oz containers (about $1.42 per container). I flash-froze roughly half for smoothies and baking.
$19.25 – Case of donut nectarines — 11 lbs (about $1.75 per pound).
$12.50 – Grill Pack: 1 pineapple, 4 ears of corn, 2 bundles green onion, asparagus, button mushrooms, portabella mushrooms, 2 orange peppers, 1 red pepper, and 4 green chile peppers.
$25.00 – Salad Pack (I ordered two): each pack included two personal-sized watermelons, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, four organic tomatoes, red onions, heads of cabbage, heads of iceberg lettuce, and a total of 12 red potatoes across the two packs.
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Grocery Store Price Comparison
I rarely buy produce at the grocery store, but last week I ran low and picked up a few items for $17.32 — and those were on sale. This purchase reminded me how much I value having a local Bountiful Baskets site. At grocery prices, I couldn’t buy nearly as much fresh produce for the same cost.
What I bought at the grocery store for $17.32:
$4.99 – Watermelon
$1.99 – Nectarines (3), about 1 lb
$1.45 – Bananas, 1.96 lb
$5.86 – Cherries, 1.96 lb
$2.03 – Plums (3), 0.68 lb
$1.00 – Limes (3)
Every time I shop for produce at the grocery store I’m grateful for the co-op option nearby. The savings and quantity from Bountiful Baskets make it possible to feed my family the fresh produce we love without paying full grocery store prices.
So, what do you think — are you ready to try Bountiful Baskets?
I originally shared this post as part of a Flashback Friday feature at New Mrs. Adventures.