Causecast

by JESSICA WOLF, Contributing Writer

Every two weeks, 27-year-old Los Angeles publicist Megan Kellett gets a little L.O.V.E packaged in a fresh-smelling brown box delivered to her office.

That would be thanks to LoveDelivery.com, a food co-op Kellett has been a member of for the last year or so. It stands for Los Angeles Organic Vegetable Express and it’s how the budding gourmet cook gets her fresh fruits and veggies every month.

Even in a city that enjoys a preponderance of Farmers Markets in a variety of neighborhoods, Kellett considers the L.O.V.E. option her easiest bet for building weekly menus of the fresh, homemade meals she prepares for her significant other every night.

Every other week, L.O.V.E sends Kellett an email outlining the seasonal fruits and veggies that will be boxed and shipped to her door. She then has the option to manage quantities and shift her choices based on the kind of recipes she’s planning on making for the week. Often, she plans her cooking schedule based on the kind of fruits and veggies that will be coming her way, keeping her diet tuned to the season.

Fruit and vegetable co-ops are growing in popularity as an option for healthy organic food lovers. Kellett herself has inducted two friends into the L.O.V.E family. These co-ops benefit local farmers, make getting your hands on quality organic produce infinitely convenient (what beats door-to-door delivery?) and is not as expensive as you might think.

Kellett pays $57 each month for her two shipments, comparable to shopping at Farmers Markets or in the organic aisles of the supermarket. Depending on the cooperative you join and how many other people are involved, food co-op shipments can be as low as $20. For information on how to find and join a co-op near you, enter your zip code at Local Harvest.

Another good resource for finding a food cooperative is GreenPeople.org.

When choosing a co-op, look for an option that allows you to customize your order and delivery experience. Make sure to provide a delivery address that won’t leave your fresh fruits and veggies wilting or freezing in inclement weather. Or select a service that will let you pick up your fruits and veggies.

In Utah and the Phoenix area, Bountiful Baskets co-op offers multiple pick-up locations with baskets starting at $15 per contribution.

If there isn’t a co-op in your area, another option is to look into starting one. Some tips, do’s and dont’s on that front, as well as informational articles on natural foods and farming can be found at the Co-op Directory.

Photo by WordRidden, flickr