It is awesome.
For those of you who don't live up the I-15 corridor (AZ, UT, or ID) or in Washington State, I kind of feel sorry for you because you can't participate. (Wow, that sounded a bit TAMN-esque. Sorry.)
And, I might be shooting myself in the foot by telling all of you about this because then it will be harder for me to order.
Anyway, here's the deal: Bountiful Baskets is a co-op, meaning everyone who helps are volunteers (meaning you are only paying for your food and not for someone's salary). You place your order online on Tuesday or Wednesday, and on Saturday morning you pick up your order. An order costs $15.00, plus $1.50 handling fee (plus if it is your very first time it costs $3.00 extra). So, for $16.50, this is what I got: (yes, I was standing on the counter and yes, this is a bit of an awkward picture)
1 pineapple4 brown asian pears (grown in the USA - ironic)
7 California mandarin oranges
7 Pink Lady apples
9 bananas
6 corn on the cob
1 head cauliflower
6 heads of elephant garlic
1 head green leaf lettuce
1 bunch asparagus
3 zucchini
1 jicama (I've never purchased jicama, and I've never tasted it; I'm going to have to Google it to figure out what to do with it)
So, the "catch" is that you pay your money, and you have no idea what you are going to get. And it changes every time apparently. That is the only catch. Before looking into it, I was under the impression that it was like a subscription and you had to pay $15 every other week, or in other words $30 a month. But you can just do it one time and never do it again. It's completely up to you.
The one downside was when I was trying to place my order on Tuesday afternoon. Apparently their server can't handle the number of requests, because it was slower than tar (or molasses, take your pick of cliche words). But no wonder - some of the sites fill up within the hour. There are two sites in my small town, and all 85 openings filled up just at my site.
My kids were giddy! They came with me, they helped fill my bags with the fruits and veggies, and they wanted to eat the apples on the way home.
We have only been home for 30 minutes, and each boy had an apple (I had a slice of Aidan's - delicious) and I had a mandarin orange (the taste is amazing, but each slice has two seeds in it which is a bit annoying). For lunch today we are having corn on the cob. For dinner tonight we will be having roasted asparagus. I need to buy (or make) french baguettes so I can roast whole heads of garlic to spread on them. And I sense that zucchini bread or brownies are in my very near future.
Yay for Bountiful Baskets!
P.S. Anyone have any ideas on what to do with jicama?
(P.P.S. I know this sounds like a review. I wasn't paid for it. I was just so excited about this that I had to share with you.)
37 people wanted to leave a comment:
That sounds nice. I hate that most of the produce I buy goes to waste... Sigh.
I've been meaning to join a co-op. But like Julie, a lot of the produce we buy goes to waste. With only two of us, we don't eat it fast enough.
Oh! Have you ever had the SHOOT I can't remember what the name of it is salad at California Pizza Kitchen? The one with the fried tortilla strips and the chicken and the BBQ sauce? The jicama is one of the best things in that salad. White and super juicy, a little sweet and very refreshing, but different than any other vegetable. I think you just chop it up and eat it plain cold or you can put it in a salad. Yum!
Hi - Thanks for letting us in on this great thing. I live in the corridor - yayyyyy and I had no idea this existed. I am so excited!
Jicama you just peel and slice it and put it in salads.
You can keep it in the refrigerator (uncut) up to 2 weeks. After cutting you can usually keep it a week.
You can also cook it - it is kind of like a potato and if you chop it up and throw it in vegetable dishes or stir frys, etc...it takes on the flavor of what you are cooking. I have even heard of people making fries out of Jicama and putting spices on it. It is actually very versatile.
I love it!
Im in the I15 corridor too!
I love jicama!!! I always describe it as the texture of a raw potato but tastes like sweet like peas in a pod. I cut it into chunks and eat it plain. I know some who dip it in dressing like carrots and celery. It was actually the first thing I noticed in your picture!
Mmmm... jicama. So good. It's great in salads. And I was just thinking that it might be tasty shredded and served like a carrot salad with a simple vinaigrette. Yum-o.
I have been wanting to join a co-op for months, but didn't want to shell out $400 for a season-long membership. I'm going to have to give Bountiful Baskets a try!
I chop up jicama and and put it in a salad. It is crunchy and adds some zip.
Sounds like a good deal for all that food too!
Jicama is really good on a veggie tray. I love it dipped in ranch. I've never tried it any other way. I think I'll have to try it in a salad.
When I was in grad school I helped out with a nutrition education program that took place with kids from 3-5 grade. We had tasting parties because many kids in Iowa are really only familiar with corn and potatoes. Anyways, jicama was one thing they got to taste and it was always funny to try and help them say what it was so they could tell their parents about it. :)
Glad you found something so great!
We have some really good co-ops in MN, but nothing like that! I really like that idea!
we have always eaten Jicama raw some cook it here is my favorite salad recipe.
(i don't use the green bell but i use the red and yellow)
we eat it like a carrot just as a snack also..
i love bountiful baskets!!
ours has bread also.. i love to get my bread for the week there,(a lot of gourmet breads!) along with my vegis and fruit! i don't plan my menu till i see what we have from the basket..
Jicama Salad
* 1 large jicama (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled, then julienned or cubed (easiest to work with if you cut the jicama in half first)
* 1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced
* 1/2 yellow bell pepper, finely diced
* 1/2 green bell pepper, finely diced
* 1/2 cup chopped red onion
* 1/2 a large cucumber, seeded, chopped
* 1 navel orange, peel cut away, sliced crosswise, then each round quartered
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
* 1/3 cup lime juice
* Pinch of cayenne
* Pinch of paprika
* Salt
Optional
* 1/2 avocado chopped
* 2 Tbsp olive oil
Method
1 Toss together the jicama, bell peppers, red onion, cucumber, orange, and cilantro in a large serving bowl. Pour lime juice over all. Sprinkle with a pinch of cayenne and paprika. Season generously with salt.
2 Let sit a half an hour before serving.
Serves 4.
I eat jicama in salads. My fave is lettuce, sliced jicama, craisins, mandarin oranges and sugared almonds with a yummy dressing.
I have never even heard of jicama. I am astounded by all the people who have.
I've never heard of bountiful baskets, either! Awesome!! I bought some fresh veggies today and thought of you, so it's funny that I come home and find a post like this. Thanks for the heads up!
And now I a filing this in my mind as well....everything looks so delicious!
That asparagus is catching my eye for some reason!
I'd been looking into this as well and I'm glad you liked it. There's one in Springville that I think I'll try. If I can remember to order on time. I think that will be the hardest thing for me!
You're the 2nd person that's posted about this this week (that I've seen)! Maybe I need to look into it...we used to do a CSA. Jicama - one of my FAVES. cut into carrot-like sticks and dip in ranch. Heaven.
Yum! The only time I've had Jicama is at a restaurant and it was prepared in a kind of vinegary sauce with apples but oh my. it is delish.
This sounds like my kind of co-op. When we're back in green, I may have to look into it! and I'm glad other people know what to do with Jicamas. I may have to buy one next week and try it.
Mmm, I should look into this. Not that I have the patience, but the produce and price look fabulous.
You know, I have been thinking about joining a co-op for a while now. I may just have to look into this one. Thanks!
How awesome!! I am so jealous. I am having a hard time finding decent produce right now here. I am sure it will be better in the summer since there are lots of farms around here. You cut jicama up in strips like fries and squeeze lime juice over them. That is how we eat it.
Wow, they had garlic in there this time?! I'm so bummed. I didn't order in time and my site filled up.
I'm SOOO glad you loved it!
Wish I could try it out. That sounds awesome! You'll have to let us know what you do with your jicama!
I've heard that Jicamas are great sliced and eaten raw, just dip them in ranch.
I've never even heard of jicamas! Bountiful Baskets sounds like a cool idea....Mark and I only buy little bits of fruits and veggies at a time, or else they end up going bad. We really need to be better about that.
I had my first Bountiful Baskets pickup this weekend and was pleased with the items we got. They just started the location in my town and had to immediately up it from every two weeks to every week because of the demand. My husband and I had quite a debate about what the jicama was.
Oh and in Utah you can also try these guys,
https://www.foodco-op.net/the_basics/how_to_join.html
Ooh, there are a ton of sites by us!! Thanks for sharing!!
the jicama is AMAZING in the cpk salad as referenced by others! yum yum yum! the recipe is on my bloggy if you need it :) that basket thing is amazing. I am very jealous.
I wish they had that where I live...we are making trips to the store every few days to stock back up on veges and fruit!
-Several people in my neighborhood do this and LOVE it. The asian pears (we love these at our house) alone make it all worth it.
-Roasted asparagus sounds delicious.
-My dad loves jicama. He just slices it and eats it like apples. I, however, find it a little tasteless when served this way.
What a fabulous idea, I LOVE it!!! And I've only ever had jicama on salads...let me know if you find a use! :)
sounds great.... I would love the variety of all that produce.
Jimaca who? lol this goes to show.. I am out of the loop once again lol
This sounds lovely.. lol on the brown asian pear.. my hubby loves them, and I asked what are they? applepear.. lol ok
I've heard of that and I live in WA! Bummer for me, huh? that looks awesome! I like jicama dipped in a yummy ranch dip. I think I like anything in dip. :)
I personally think it's worth upping the budget for the fruits and veggies. I think our kids need the exposure to more interesting (and expensive) produce. It's my latest soapbox around here. and it sure doesn't always sit well with the natives. :)
http://howellfam.blogspot.com/2009/11/for-love-of-dinner.html
It's funny you posted about this. I have just barely heard about this in Utah and am TOTALLY going to try this. It looks amazing!!
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