The Bounties of Bountiful Baskets

Have you heard of Bountiful Baskets?  If not, I have some fabulous information for you!  Take a look at this...

That lettuce is sitting at the bottom of the 18-gallon bin and stands up more than 2/3 of the way...

This was today's haul.  It's always 50% fruit 50% vegetables and their facebook page often gives recipes including ingredients found in each weeks baskets.  You don't know what you're going to get, but there are specialty packs that are more definite when available, like their Asian Pack, Italian Pack or bulk fruits like 20-lb. boxes of peaches and tomatoes.  They even have cookie packs that include frosting and sprinkles and bread packs (I love the bread!).   I order mine at http://bountifulbaskets.org/ and this particular co-op (yes, Bountiful Baskets is a food co-op) has many locations in the following states: AZ, CO, GA, ID, KS, KY, MT, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA and WY.  If your state isn't listed or there isn't a pick-up location close to you you can go to the site and start your own site where you and others in your area can participate, or search the web to see if there is a Bountiful Basket or Food Co-op near you!

Everything all laid out.  Isn't it glorious?

• 5 Bosc pears 
• 5 kiwis
• 2 pomegranates
• 4 oranges
• 9 bananas (2 might possibly be plantains, I'll see in a few days if they stay green)
• 3 lb. bag of WA Fuji apples
• 5 ears of corn
• 1 lb. of brussel sprouts
• 6 tomatoes
• 1 head of cauliflower
• 1 head of broccoli
• 1 HUMONGOUS head of red-leaf lettuce.  

That's the lettuce next to a LARGE slicing tomato

I could make a salad for the population of starving college students with one head!

Maybe I can guess what you're thinking...  "I can get all that at my grocery store, why should I buy from Bountiful Baskets?"  I'll tell you why!  After I picked up my basket today, I went to two of the local grocery stores, one was Walmart and the other Lee's.  I weighed and priced the same produce at both stores-- unfortunately neither had pomegranates ears of corn, or brussel sprouts and Walmart didn't have kiwis, so I improvised with some standard/recent pricing. I priced the pomegranates at $1.50 ea. even though I'm sure they'd be more in my area, put Walmart's kiwi price at $0.40 ea. which is the same at Lee's, the corn at $1.00 per ear (keep in mind, it's not in season, hence the high price) and the brussel sprouts at $3.29  per pound sourced from a lovely friend who buys them frequently.  So, the numbers...  Here they are (this is without tax added).

Walmart Total: $29.92
Lee's Total: $28.85

Seems pretty standard, right?  That's a LOT of produce at fair and competitive prices.  Why Bountiful Baskets you asked?  Here's why...

Sixteen-fifty.

Yup!  $16.50.  After taxes.  OH THE FRUGALITY! 

Thank Heaven for BB, ya'll!  Start doing it.  If you're a student or even a young couple/small family, you could easily split the price and bounty in half or more and get a week's worth of healthy fruits and veggies.

So there you go!

Have a happy day!