Sharing responsibilities - Food for less

[Guest guest]

Isabella i b [izdabe] Tuesday, June 07, 2005 10:24 PM

Re: [Raw Food] Sharing responsibilities

 

However, if you're on food stamps, chances are you're on a budget and when

you have to " choose " between spending $2 for ONE organic tomato or .79/lb

for tomatoes from Walmart, well... in my opinion, it doesn't really become

much of a choice.

_____

Hi Isabella and all,

I realize I am snipping a tiny statement from your long and thoughtful

message. I do not mean to diminish the importance of the rest of your

message in any way, but I sense a real opportunity in the foregoing comment.

 

In this circumstance, I would suggest buying zero tomatoes and concentrating

instead on those foods that will bring you maximum healthful calories. This

is a great example of where buying bananas by the case could be a windfall.

 

Now Whole Foods will likely not " cooperate " with what I am about to suggest,

but many smaller stores will indeed cooperate. For several years now, we

have worked on our relationships with the produce managers at a couple of

smaller local stores that do carry organic produce. Let me be clear -- we do

NOT come from a place of financial want, but rather from a place of utter

enthusiasm for the products they sell. We LOVE our organic produce! And they

tend to like this -- sometimes a lot!

 

More often than we used to realize, they have foods -- bananas being a

common one -- that become " overripe. " By " overripe, " I mean that most

consumers won't buy them -- yet they are PERFECT for eating!!

 

We have made an arrangement with one or two such managers to call us the

moment this occurs, we tell they " we'll come get em! " And the prices are

often amazing, e.g., bananas for less than 10 cents / pound!!! at times. Of

course, it helps if you like bananas :)

 

Then we learned that sometimes their distributors also have overripes -- by

the case! So we asked the produce managers to ask, and to let us know

whenever this showed up on their lists from their distributors. Bananas for

$10-$15 / 40# case, and with some frequency!!! If they ripen too fast, just

put them into the refrigerator with spots but before they become mushy,

they'll last for some time this way.

 

You don't have to pay retail for everything!!!!! If you are buying what they

believe they cannot sell and would otherwise likely throw away, you improve

BOTH their bottom line and your way of life. This presents a genuine win-win

proposition, IMHO.

 

Oh, FYI, this can also work at the farmers market. For example, I've

sometimes paid $20 for a $40 box of " overripe " tomatoes. They were the only

ripe tomatoes in the whole market!!!

 

NOTE: I've even go so far as to ask some farmers if they might have some

overripes at NEXT week's market, then if they say anything even resembling

" maybe, " I get their phone # and call them a couple days in advance just to

" inquire, " get an " update, " " stay in touch, " etc. Doesn't always work, but

often enough!!!

 

Remember, " ask and you shall receive. " Most people seem to think this is a

statement about receiving. I believe it is a statement about asking, the

receiving is merely an outcome.

 

Just be persistent, patient ... and positive. Relationships take time to

nurture ... so nurture away! That's what I have to say. (Uh-oh, there he

goes again.)

 

Hope this is helpful.

Elchanan

 

PS If all else fails, come and visit us in California, we'll SHOW you what

we mean!

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Hi Elchanan and Everyone.

 

I had NO IDEA that this was even an option...my

wheels are turning....LOL. And it's funny because I

work at a shelter where often we get produce and other

items from the surplus at grocery stores, including

Whole Foods. Why didn't I consider getting food for

myself? Gosh, I'm so slow;)

 

I will definitely check out buying from other places

that have a surplus. I also didn't know that one could

special order food items from a grocery store.

 

See? This is what I'm talking about...If more folks

learn information such as this, it empowers them to

make better choice for themselves. Thank you so much,

for sharing this!

 

Isabella

 

 

 

 

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