Fresh produce for 4? Just $14
12.05.2008 03:01
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- Source: JS Online
Food prices may be spiking, but you can still get a grocery bag of fresh fruits and vegetables for $14. You just have to know where to find it: Growing Power, 5500 W. Silver Spring Drive. "We're making healthy food affordable to everyone," said Will Allen, co-founder and CEO of the nonprofit urban farm on Milwaukee's north side. "We're able to drop food in the city where there aren't quality grocery stores within a mile. But the program is for everyone, whether you're a millionaire or make $5,000 a year." Allen announced Friday that Growing Power is expanding its Farm-City Market Basket Program. The program began in 1995 and has grown gradually to include drop-off sites throughout the metropolitan area, not just the central city. Each $14 Market Basket - a brown paper shopping bag - is filled with sufficient vegetables and fruit to feed a family of four for a week, according to Allen. Growing Power distributes 275 to 375 baskets each week. Allen estimated the same bag of produce would cost $30 in a grocery store. Market Baskets previously were available only at Growing Power by advance order on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Now, they will be available every day at the farm - no advance order required - from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Drop-off sites - from community centers to pet stores and university campuses - will handle their own weekly schedules and still require advance orders. Food stamps (Quest cards) are accepted. Growing Power can offer reasonably priced fruits and vegetables because it buys in bulk from small farms around the country through the Rainbow Farmers Cooperative. The arrangement removes wholesalers and distributors to reduce costs while supporting small farms, Allen said. Growing Power also has a dozen greenhouses at its farm, where it grows fruits and vegetables that will be added to Market Baskets when available. This past week's Market Basket included four bananas, eight apples, four oranges, two large mushrooms, broccoli, four ears of sweet corn, four pears, several large baking potatoes and yams. The mix of seasonal produce changes from week to week. Allen said he looked into a Community Supported Agriculture arrangement in which consumers buy a share of a farm and receive a bag of food each week in return. But those arrangements require payment of several hundred dollars up front for a season's worth of produce. "You also take on the risk if the farmer has a bad year, and then you get less food," Allen said. While the agreements work well for those who can afford them, Allen said he wanted to make fresh fruits and vegetables accessible by the week for those of lesser means. "It's a fair price for a bag of food," he said.
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