Bountiful Basket

I love participating in the Bountiful Baskets co-op! If you've never heard of it, let me explain. Bountiful Baskets is a co-op with chapters set up in many different states. What started out as two sites in 2006 has grown to hundreds of sites in 16 different states. Members wishing to participate in a specific week make a contribution towards a basket. The basic basket contribution is about $15.00 for a basket that is roughly 50/50 as far as fruits and vegetables are concerned. Organic baskets and additional items (lunch packs, additional fruits/vegetables, bread, etc.) are available at an additional cost. We usually opt for the "basic" basket and we have yet to be disappointed. Trust me, you couldn't buy this stuff in a store for the low price of $15.00! The above picture was our first Bountiful Basket. We participated last week and our basket contained bananas, strawberries, pears, onions, potatoes, green bell peppers, lemons, celery, and much more.

This is also a fun program because it challenges the way you think about food. You never know what you're going to get, so it adds some fun and variety to your meal planning. Since we pick up our basket(s) on Saturday morning, we're able to review the contents and plan some meals accordingly. For example, after reviewing last week's basket, I immediately decided to make a stew and a banana pie. Both were a hit with my family. Sometimes, we've received items that we wouldn't normally have purchased. In the above picture, you'll notice a small container of champagne grapes. I wouldn't have purchased these on my own, but they were an amazing addition to our basket. They also prompted me to search for ideas on how to use them. I wound up making some "lavender/cream cheese mini tarts" and they were delicious! Definitely a great way to expand your culinary talent and feed your family.

I also love that we're able to purchase healthy food at an affordable price.

If you're interested in participating, check out the Bountiful Baskets website and see if they have a location close to you. Of course, since this is a co-op, everything is run by volunteers, so I would encourage you to volunteer your time to the co-op if you're physically able to do so. It's a simple way to ensure that this excellent program sticks around for a long time to come.