In a nutshell, every other Monday there are a limited number of baskets for pre-order. A conventional basket is $15 plus a transport fee. The first time you order there is a one time only $3 basket fee. You can order 3 baskets per person so you can split the processing fee with a couple of friends. This is actually what I have been doing - ordering 3 shares & splitting it with 2-3 of my training buddies.
The baskets are split about 50/50 between fruits & vegetables. Each week they have extras that can be added on. Extras are different every time but in the past they have offered flats of strawberries, blueberries, grill packs, juice packs, etc. Also, they offer different types of breads. The breads are really good but they need to be either eaten within a few days, refrigerated or frozen because they don't have all the crap in them that keeps them from never going bad. Have you ever noticed how long the typical grocery store hot dog bun will stay 'good' on your counter? It kind of freaks me out.
The co-op is volunteer run which means every 6 or so orders it is good karma to show up an hour early to help unload the truck & fill the baskets. Be advised it is hard work! For volunteering you are rewarded with an extra goodie in your basket & first pick of the baskets. All produce is equally divided amongst all the baskets & then the extras are also equally divided to the baskets.
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| The Bountiful Basket Delivery Truck |
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| Unloading the Goods |
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| The Baskets - 1 veggie & 1 fruit |
- 3 heads of green leaf lettuce (1 was for volunteering)
- 3 heads of bok choy
- 1 thing of celery
- 3 red peppers
- 1 - 5lb bag of potatoes
- 1 pineapple
- 1 pound of strawberries
- 4 bananas
- 1 package of mushrooms
- 7 pears
- 20 lemons
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| Early March Conventional Basket |
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| Bountiful Salad |
To date I have participated in 6 orders. I have even introduced a few of my training buddies to Bountiful Baskets as well. Every share the produce is different so you can experiment with new things. So far, I haven't wasted too much produce. It helps we drink smoothies on a regular basis. I will put just about anything into a smoothie these days - well, not onions or potatoes but definitely greens, carrots, celery, zucchini, etc. If I can freeze something I will do that as well. That is what I did with the 20 lemons order - I juiced them, put them in 1 cup containers & froze them. I did have one batch of bananas that never ripened but other than that everything has been high quality.
Below are the goodies in the May 31st share:
- 1.5 heads of broccoli
- 1 bunch of asparagus
- 1 bunch of celery
- 3 squash
- 12 white onions (a few were extras from Ruth)
- 1 pack of blackberries
- 6 tomatoes
- 1 head of romaine lettuce
- 6 green apples
- 6 bananas
- 1 bag of grapes
- 2 orange peppers
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| May 31st Conventional Basket |
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| Bountiful Grill - Purple potatoes from a previous basket |
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| Grilled Naan Bountiful Pizza |
National Bountiful Basket - HERE
Kentucky Bountiful Basket - HERE
When I first started ordering in March the baskets would sell out in about 2-4 hours. Since then Lexington has grown to a double site - meaning they support around 200 orders. I don't think they haven't sold out since making Lexington a double site. I think it may be a combo of the weather being nicer & the farmers markets in full swing has slowed the ordering quite a bit. Kentucky is trying to expand so they are trying to get the word out about this program.
The next ordering opportunity for Kentucky is Monday June 9th at 1PM. The Lexington pick up site is at 5PM Saturday (next one is 6/14) on Southland drive. If you eat a lot of fruits & veggies or if you want to start eating better this may be a great program for you.
Let me know if you have any questions & I will do my best to answer them.
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