Food Co-ops?

Some are good resources and some are just over priced health market wannabees. The one we go to has been open since the sixties, the only other one we've been to in the area thought it was a boutique and is now out of business because no one could afford to shop there.

 

I would say be careful. Working at farmer's markets has disillusioned me towards the whole local food scene. At least half of the people aren't honest and most of the items are overpriced. Some of those people would sell their stuff to the Food-Coops. Here, the best is to go to small farm stands or the non-tourist Amish (the touristy Amish will rip you off). I hate to sound negative but I saw a lot of BS I wasn't expecting while working. I was even selling my stuff as all natural and local only to find out later that the owner was buying supplies from Walmart.

 

There's a big farmers market across the river. It's been a few years since I've been there, but I'm sure it hasn't changed much. They try to make you think that the food is locally grown, but it's obvious that most of the vendors get their produce from local distributors. http://www.findlaymarket.org/

We have a local farmers market that operates every Tues. and Fri., from 3 to 5pm. Their food is all local and good quality. I used to go there once a week and get meat from a guy that raises cattle, haven't seen him this year though. His brisket was excellent. There's another vendor there that sells vegetables at the market and beef from their farm. I haven't gotten any meat from them yet, because I don't feel comfortable going in their barn and pulling meat out of the freezer and pay for it by putting money in a box. Next time I'm at the market, I need to talk to them and find out when I can come to the farm when their available to be there. Their place is only about 4 miles from me.

Never heard of any coops around here. Makes me think of hippies.

 

Wow that's something you don't hear alot. We have a few veggie stands on the honor system around here, but not a meat supplier.

 

there is a farm stand in town that offers a csa shares type of program and the price is outragous , they do have a small farm but most of the products are trucked in , as an early riser i see the trucks while on my early walks , the place has become more of a prepared foods place than a farm but the people around here are tripping over themselves to get in ,they are paying a fortune for the cuteness factor,in 47 years i have bought a fruit basket once as a gift , and that i was asked to pick up because i live the closest to the place , i guess i find it so amazing because im so cheap.

 

We have a similar farm close to us too. Way over priced for us... 2x for any meat item vs our local grocery store (really good meat dept). Folks buy in to their "help pay to run the farm" program... all good right now... the new fad. An amazing couple (typical) are the driving force and they work dawn til dusk 7 days a week. When they started the whole concept 15 + years ago I'm sure it was easier. It's wearing them down of course. No free time, ever. If they aren't growing food, they're selling it in their cafe/store. They're an inspiration to watch, just can't afford to shop there.

 

It's a working farm and they sell the produce and meat out of their barn. I've bought veggies from them, but not meat yet. I just don't feel comfortable putting that kind of money in a locked box. I'll have the wife contact them on facebook and set up a time to buy some meat.
There's another farm that's just a few miles from us that sells veggies on the honor system, but no meat.

 

We are part of CSA for the second year now. Last years was certified naturally grown but the were some bugs on occasion which failed the WAF (wife acceptance factor). This years is at least organic but zero bugs so far. It averages about $2/# of produce i would say. This week for example included: beans, tomatoes, cilantro, carrots, plums, nectarines, peppers, cucumbers, pickles, eggplant, arugula. We think its nice to be 'forced' to mix different items into our meals that we wouldnt ordinarily buy. They also host lots of activities for the kids as well as free pick-your-own entry for CSA members.

 

I belong to a buying club, we get produce before the local markets mark it up. All organic, and I can get fruit year round. I use this mostly through the winter as the garden provides pretty good for the 3 of us through the summer.

 

Btfl bskt was started around here 2 yrs ago. About 1/2 the sites are now closed. Food wuz good reasonably priced but people didn't want to volunteer after about 6 months and trucks were getting bad for being 2 hrs late and a lot of ticked people waiting didn't do good for its reputation.

 

My farm is moving from PA to NJ this fall. Rather than starting over at the farmers markets in NJ I'm starting a private, members only food club, Honest Food Club starting in Spring 2016. I'm running it a lot like the market share CSA I currently have minus the farmers markets. My CSA members love my format. It's very affordable and extremely member friendly. Billing is going to be monthly rather than requiring payment up front. I don't care for the traditional CSA model where members get a box of pre-selected veggies. My members decide what they take home each market from what's available. I also don't like the shared risk idea. It's my business, I'm responsible for the crops, end of story.

Everything that is offered is grown by me or a local farm (like within 10 miles from my farm, that local) if I'm not growing it, like sweet corn. Nothing is trucked in or bought from distributors. Instead of going to the market I am going to deliver to sites once a week. The entire operation is going to revolve around my farm's online store. I'm in the process of talking to local farmers near the new farm site and see who would like to work with me on the club. I'm really excited about it.

 

sounds good , best of luck

 

x2

 

My brother and his wife buy into a crop share deal from a local farm. they pre-pay and get what whatever the farm is overrun with a couple times a week - they never know what they will get
Not much different than doing your own farming(being overrun and in my case giving it away after I get tired of canning) but he shells out a good chunk of change upfront.

As far as farmer's markets goes I ran one for my boss for ~8yrs twice a week and we were the "big dog" at the market. Most are required to grow a % of their crops and have native produce, there were always debates about who was reselling stuff from a non-native distributor.
The one thing I learned from my boss was have a crop first and have it longest, secondarily never attempt to sell a product that is subpar - unless you deeply discount it to get them "under the tent"
I was the best marketer/display guy he ever had - my reward was a stack of Jacks for bringing home full cash box

 

We have a few farm programs here where you pay a share upfront, then you get a portion of the harvest every week. You get bags of veggies, some you might like, some you might not. If it is a good year, you get a lot, poor year, not so much. The farmer is sharing his risk. I don't buy into that program, but my brother in-law has and claims to be happy with it. Most of us were brought up not to be fussy about what we get so most everything is OK.

 

I do get the sense that CSAs vary widely, with some being very expensive for what you get. We've been members of one since 2012, and have been very happy. A full share was too much, so we started splitting a share with a neighbor. $12/week gets us more fruits and vegetables than our 2-person household can usually consume, almost all of it organic. This is our guy. He's been doing it since 1971 (!), grows a wide variety of stuff, and trades with other nearby farmers so he can include some specialty items like blueberries, strawberries, cider, bread and honey in the boxes once in a while. He even puts apples, potatoes, beets, turnips, celeriac, onions, etc. into cold storage so he can offer a winter subscription. There are also fringe benefits, such as the occasional offer of a free box of imperfect "pie" apples. One autumn a couple of years ago, when the weather was just perfect, we got an invitation to a guided mushroom hunt in the farmer's woods. We came home with a paper grocery bag full of novel fungus.

There's also a co-op grocery store not far from home. We're not members, but we do shop there selectively. A lot of what they carry is pricey, Whole Foods-ish stuff, but they have good cheese and yogurt, bulk granola and dried fruit, specialty grains and flours, etc.