Here was my shopping trip for the week. This was the first week of the local, organic produce delivery I signed up for. My first week was $15 as a trial and then the price goes up to $30. I think I am going to select the fruits only service they offer because it didn’t seem to me this was a lot of produce for $30. What I did get though looks fantastic and it is extremely fresh. What do you guys think- is this worth $30? Keep in mind it is all organic:
2lbs Heirloom Tomatoes
2lbs Tomatoes
Radish
1 head Lettuce
2 peppers (I have never seen these before- does anyone have any suggestions for how to cook them?)
1 melon
5 plums
2 squash
2 pears
2lbs fingerling potatoes
1 broccoli
fresh basil
Groupon: $20.78
I bought the iGourmet Groupon and got 1 lb of Parmesano Reggiano cheese and 10oz of Fig Chevre
Raley’s: $20.91
2 gallons milk $5.48
French Bread $1.78
Parmesan Pain aux Deux $1.99
Johnsonville Sausage – Free with store coupon
Crab Cakes- Free with store coupon (my store sold out of the shrimp and substituted crab cakes)
5 Kraft cheese at $2 each- Used $5/5 coupon= $1 each
Grapes $2.22
Pears $1.06
1lb lollipops $1.69on clearance (I am putting these away for Halloween)
huge jar of olives $1.69 on clearance
Safeway: $8.93
Mission Chips $1.29- Used .55 coupon and had (2) .55/1 Cellfire coupons come off= Free
Barilla $1- used $.75/1 coupon= .25
Pillsbury Bites $3- Used $1/1 printable and had (2) $1 Cellfire coupons come off= Free
Welch’s Juice $1.99- used $1.50 coupon= .49
4 Hormel lunchmeat $1.99- used (4) .55/1 coupons= $1.44 each (these will last for weeks)
2 Hormel Pepperoni $1.66- used .55/2 coupon= $2.79 for 2
CVS: .92
Pull Ups $8.99- Used $2/1 printable
King size candy bar $1- used .75/1 CVS scanner coupon (this was a filler to use the $3/10 CVS grocery coupon)
Gigantic water bottle $1.99- summertime clearance
Used the $3/10 CVS coupon scanner coupon and a $5 ECB.
So the total this week was $66.54 and I got $9.53 in rebate checks this week so my total is $57 or about $7 over what I try to spend. We still have quite a bit of pork and chicken and beef in the freezer and that cheese I bought will also last for awhile in the freezer. Plus a ton of lunchmeat and I am excited to have really fantastic Parmesan cheese- so overall I think it was a pretty decent week.
I think the 30.00 organic produce deal is totally worth it. When I go to the farmer’s market on Saturdays I easily spend 20 bucks on organic produce. For me it’s about peace of mind. So while I don’t buy organic spaghetti, crackers, etc. because those items are so processed anyway, having pesticide free produce, especially the dirty dozen produce (google it) I’d gladly pay 30 bucks for a box of organic produce I didn’t have to go hunt down at a crowded farmer’s market any day!
oh, forgot to add that you can use the peppers just like you would any other bell pepper. And if you can’t figure out a recipe to use them in this week, just slice them up and flash freeze them (put them cut up into individual slices on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or wax paper until they’re frozen) then put them in a ziploc in the freezer for when you do need them. That will prevent them from freezing together. Same thing with the squash.
I actually did the same deal with groupon a couple of months ago. I really, really like it, but the only problem I had with the produce was: it was all ready to eat the day it was delivered. With only 2 people in my house, it generally takes us the whole week to eat that much fruits/vegetables, and by then it had gone bad. I ended up canceling it, though it was a neat idea.
Courtney- that was my thought too. I mean I buy the tomatoes and grapes and things and they aren’t even from the US and who knows what they have on them. My girls eat a lot of fruit every week and I think I am going to try the fruit one next week. This week with the veggies it is a little tricky because of how I meal plan- I usually plan around what sounds good, what is cheap/fresh/in season, and what we already have. So to not know what I will get is a bit of a problem for me. I like the idea of going to the Farmer’s Market but then in reality it is crowded, I am usually shocked at the prices and the girls are little darlings for 2 seconds and then I am ready to go 🙂
In our organic CSA we get that amount of produce for $16 each week, granted we live in Ohio. I find it extremely worth it but my cost is 1/2 of yours. Personally, I believe you can’t put a price on health. Risking eating convential produce with all the chemicals they spray and genetically modified seeds they use is well…risky. We don’t know the effects this has on our bodies or little ones bodies and I don’t want to find out. (Watch Food Inc., King Corn or read Chew on This or Marion Nestle’s What to Eat) I’d rather pay for the CSA box and let the farmer get the money than pay the doctor or hospital co-pays! Off my soapbox now.
I also forgot about the peppers…. Those are green pepers that have just rippened. How about making fajitas or chili with them. Or you can use them in place of any recipe where green peppers are called for. Just looking at the other produce you got and your grocery list you could make a great pasta with the sausage, green peppers and fresh tomatoes. Or a potato skillet with the potatoes sauteed, with onion, the peppers, and tomatoes diced up. Yum!
Do you mind if I ask what the name of the company is who does the produce delivery service? I am in the Sacramento area and would be interested if they deliver here. Thanks!
That doesn’t seem like a bad price. Those peppers are great! We buy yellow and red bell peppers all of the time; to me they have a better taste than the green ones. We use our’s in salads but the best is to use them on skewers on the grill! We did that last week with fresh shrimp 🙂
I like red, orange and yellow peppers but the ones I got are purple peppers. They aren’t red and I haven’t used purple before.
Jennifer I went through farmfreshtoyou.com
Looking at what you got it does seem a little pricey to me, but if there aren’t a lot of options in your area it may very well be a decent price.
I would say I get just about as much stuff (no pesticides as well) for $17 each delivery. I found them on this site: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
(I’m in N. California)
i’ve never checked into delivery in our area, but since we have so many local produce stands, i love to stock up on things when they are fresh, organic, and have great prices during the summer. during the winter, i often get produce at costco. since we are a small family, we don’t go through produce that quickly, but i have found something that i swear by- tupperware frigesmart containers (and no, i am not a tupperware consultant, or getting any sort of payment for this review:). they keep fruits and veggies fresh for weeks, as long as you put stuff in before washing it. i keep romaine lettuce heads for a month, and i got bell peppers from the produce stand 2 1/2 weeks ago and they are still in great shape! i love it because i feel like i can still stockpile with my produce!
I think the surprise aspect of the produce would be a lot of fun! 30 bucks might be hard to swallow once it’s winter and the produce is less fab, though maybe you’ll get better stuff there than we do in the midwest.
I’m seeing a lovely gourmet pizza with the peppers…
Ha! Ok Julie I will try to find a deal on those and I’ll check them out thanks 🙂
I love a csa and if you’re in the central valley you should be able to get a much better deal on one. just google csa and your town. Only downside is you have to commit and some you have to pay for a month or even season at a time.
I would be interested in what you find out about the tupperware fridsmart also. Thanks so much!!
I live in the DC area and we spend $30 a week for delivery. I looked at a lot of CSAs and that was the best price I could find. I think you will pay more in higher cost of living areas.
In my area (Connecticut), $30 for that much organic produce is very reasonable. A CSA from the farm around the corner is $35/week. I just spent $40 there yesterday for a week’s worth a produce. But, I chose what we want to eat. (The CSA boxes look like they have beets in them pretty often. LOVE the greens. Will eat golden roots. Not crazy about red roots.)
Hubby and I discussed it. We will probably do the CSA next year to support the farmer because it is a small family-owned farm that has been in this town for over 100 years – owned and run by women. Now that we are empty-nesters, my vegetable garden and I could use a break. 😉
I notice there are little stands everywhere selling all kinds of stuff but I think there is a farmer market on sat one could go to but i haven’t had the urge. hate crowded places and we don’t normally carry cash on us 🙁
Hi Charlene
I think $30 is not a bad price for that much organic produce. Keep in mind that you will get more or less each week depending on the season and what the weather has been like. I think you need to stick it out a few months before you can decide if it works for you. However, starting now (rather than in the Spring or Summer) is probably going to give you something of a reduction in both variety and quantity when compared to what you would get it high season.
Have fun – I love CSAs! It’s a great way to get yourself to try new things!