Community Food Co-Op

A few months ago, Ro and I started participating in The Community Food Co-Op of Utah. To our pleasant surprise, we have been more than pleased. It's pretty basic - good, healthy food at a fraction of the price. We benefit through cooperative purchasing - the more people that participate, the less expensive it is. The one thing they ask in return is two hours of community volunteer service per month (and payment :D ).

My favorite thing about the co-op is they buy local when local is available. The majority of the frozen meats we get are from a butcher shop on Main St. in SLC, the bread is from Stone Ground and they offer many different items from The Nutty Guys, Tagge's and Colosimo's.

Ro and I normally get a Standard Share ($23) and a Harvest Share ($14). For next month, the Standard Share includes the following:

• 1 lb. Lean Ground Beef




• 2/8 oz. Pork Steaks




• 2 lb. Split Chicken Breasts




• 1 lb. Sirloin Beef Tips




• Fresh Fruit (3 varieties)




• Fresh Veggies (5 varieties)




• Stone Ground's Whole Wheat Bread




• 16 oz. Rice

The Harvest Share excludes the meat, adds a few more fruits & veggies plus the bread and rice.

At pickup, they have a "trade-it" box. If you don't fancy something, leave it in the box and pickup something someone else has left. It didn't help me much today since the only thing I could have traded my radishes for were...radishes!

It's been a good experience participating in this. It has made me more aware of my community, Mother Earth, service to others and made me conscious of the waste we make as humans. Picking up the fresh produce makes me aware that a farmer in this area took the time to plant, grow and pick this for me. I do not want any of it going to waste.

This has also broadened my horizons and introduced me to foods I rarely ate before. I always have my bag of baby carrots and celery in the fridge, but I don't frequent foods like Eggplant or Mango. It was fun to have something different and be reminded how yummy they are!

If you're interested in participating, here's their link: http://www.crossroads-u-c.org/cfc/the_basics/coop_basics.html