After learning of this service from LA Eastside, I got to thinking then even though I got the info pre-payday (couldn't have ordered one if I wanted to) and after their ordering deadline (ditto), it might not be a bad idea to zip down to the Leimert Park Farmer's Market just in case. The market hit post-payday. Yay.
It took me a couple of minutes to guess which of the vendors might be the people with the boxes, but an educated guess, a retrace of steps back to the broccli people to inquire, and lo that group indeed was it! As I'd hoped, they'd brought along a couple of extra boxes. When I was there was one woman and two men were holding down the fort. She immediately launched into the talking points (!yes!) when I started asking questions. The guy in the grey hoodie behind her listened closely, perhaps prepping for when it was his turn to do the talking points. Highlights!
- What's in the box is whatever they're harvesting at the moment. During times of year that fruit is being harvested, there will be fruit included. Right now, it's not locally-grown fruit season.
- If you're the type who rages at the very thought of ... say ... beets, you can request in your advance order that those unholy abominations be stricken from your box.
- The day will come when you will open your box and go What The Hell Is That And What Am I Supposed To Do With It? When this happens, zip over to the other website to see a list of produce put in your box that week and a few handy recipe jump-starters.
- You can order a box for yourself, and a box to be delivered to a family in need. The co-op handles picking and delivering to the family.
- I forgot what this bullet point was about.
Here's the box I picked up yesterday:
I shall compost the demon beets, but look, daikon! I *love* daikon! Itty-bitty broccli wrapped with collards! Butter lettuce, a couple of different kinds of kale, chard, and cilantro! I don't know what the thick curly thing is (lower right corner, to the immediate right of the daikon). There shall be an investigation.
There was worry that a box would be too many vegetables for one week (like many Americans, I don't pay any attention to that pyramid), but this isn't too many veggies at all for one person. I like the surprise factor, too, and this is a good way to expand personal food horizons. Nothing like a box containing an item or two you've never tasted before to get you experimenting.
Whenever budget allows, a box from the coop will now be a permanent part of my grocery shopping. I think, too that I should bring the previous box back when doing a new pickup. Why toss it when they can put it back in the queue. Can't wait 'til fruit starts showing up. Hope there's mangoes. Lots and lots of mangoes. Mmmmm mangoes....
