Produce Buying Club--Opinions??

Fellow Foodies--
From--Foodie--

As promised, I am posting info regarding a Produce Buying Club where the produce is ALL CERTIFIED ORGANIC and is grown in PA by Amish/Mennonite and non-Amish/Mennonite local farmers. Tuscarora Cooperative is a wholly-owned Farmers Cooperative that sells DIRECTLY to restaurants--i.e. Restaurant Nora/Asia Nora and other restaurants, foodservice operations for schools, grocery stores--i.e. Whole Foods, Wegmans, and other stores--natural foods and "regular" grocery stores, and other food venues.

Tuscarora ONLY sells their produce to the above-mentioned businesses, Buying Clubs, CSA(s), and Co-ops--not to individuals. Therefore, we talked with the owners and farmers (this weekend while we were in PA at the Cooperative and recently by phone) about forming a Buying Club in Northern VA area for people who would like an alternative to the produce that travels 1000(s) of miles across country to the grocery stores. The minimum order is $150 to order. The minimum order amount should not change; but if it does you will be notified.

We would "split cases" and get a great price. For example--if we buy a case of Spring Mix that is $20 for a case--the cost would be split between how many people were purchasing the Spring Mix case. Tuscarora is also being considered by the Herndon UNFI Buying Club. You do not have to belong to the Herndon UNFI Buying Club to participate--the Produce Buying Club is entirely separate. Tuscarora delivers twice weekly (Tuesdays and Thursdays to Northern VA areas--Fridays may be for deliveries also.)The Cooperative carries a full selection of produce year round.

I have attached info with web site info also. I have examples of the produce lists from June 15, 2007 and September 11, 2007; also January 25, 2008 for you to peruse. These lists are not all that Tuscarora carries or offers. The produce lists changes WEEKLY. Heirloom tomatoes, melons, and other foods offered. Great greens, beans, herbs, etc. as well as certain Amish farm products that the Cooperative sells SEPARATELY as a favor to the Amish farmers.

Please add your name(s) to this thread if interested and I will get back to you.

If you have any other questions--PM me or post here. We can set-up delivery in Ashburn area if needed if enough interest is shown. When we open our Cafe--we will also carry Tuscarora's produce.

Enjoy!

Tuscarora Cooperative's info/etc. below--

www.tog.coop (Tuscarora Cooperative's web site/info.)

 

There is no hurry to organize the Produce Buying Club--just read the info. Just let us know if you are interested. We order from the Cooperative for ourselves since we know the farmers.

Thanks again.

Foodie

 

redon1 and others--

Thanks for the idea about linking to your web site. Sorry you have not tried the fritters. Maybe someone at the next HH can bring some or I can drop off some goodies again at the Nature Center.

Have fun--gotta study--ugh!

Foodie

 

Hi Foodie-This also sounds great. I checked out all they have to offer and the quantities are definitely huge. It would be good if we could split most of the items. I really like the selection they have now too. You don't often get a chance to get fresh winter veggies that are organic and grown close by.

Lori

 

koajeri and others--

Yeah, you are right. Let's see how many people are interested. If there are not enough people--say more than 4-6 people--I will still "split" cases with yourself or others since I buy anyway from Tuscarora items we do not grow.

We can also "mix-up" the cases of produce as another option or buy at a "reduced price" 1/2 cases if interested. I will check on that 1/2 case option also and post info here on this thread.

Gotta study--keep me posted.:eww:

Foodie

 

Foodie,

I highly doubt that the local establiments would allow us to bring in "outside" food to our HH's. And as we typically get free or discounted appetizers for patronizing these places, as the primary organizer for the community HH's, I personally would be against it.

I think it is wonderful of you to provide home-baked treats and I also think the nature center is the best place to leave them.

Bob

 

and tere are still plenty of fritters in the Nature Center freezer

 

Bob, Maureen, and others--

Thanks for the input. No food for HH. If you don't mind, I will bring food at Nature Center when I have time--nothing over the top.

I will contact Maureen about setting up a room if possible and doing a lecture on Organics and other food-related topics if people are interested in Nutrition and other sources.


Foodie

 

Fellow Foodies--

I spoke with Tony Ricci with the Tuscarora Cooperative earlier today. He can provide all the Certified Organic Local Produce that we want. If interested, please post here your interest or PM me.

I am receiving by email the Coop's weekly produce list. Great stuff to split or order for a Buying Club. We order from Tuscarora for ourselves and other friends/family members. So there is plenty of opportunity to have fresh produce ALL year round.

I will post produce lists if there is interest. Check out the previous produce lists that I posted earlier on this thread for samples of the Coop's offerings. Even though we farm, we still order from alot of sources.

Have a good night--gotta study for an exam. Ugh?:indiff2:

Foodie

 

Yes, I'm still interested.
Lori

 

koajeri and others--

I will let you know about the Produce Buying Club. Probably it will be around the first or mid March since I will be out of town for a business trip regarding our Mennonite Cafe idea and meeting with business people in late February or early March.

Thanks and for those of you interested--PM or post your info and name on this thread.

Have a good weekend.

Foodie

 

Fellow Foodies--

I just received by email from Tony at Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative the UPDATED CERTIFIED ORGANIC PRODUCE LIST FOR WEEK OF 02/15/08 for those of you who may be interested for ordering now or in the future. Take time to check out the Cooperative's offerings--TOG carries ALOT more produce than what you see by my previous postings.

The MINIMUM ORDER FOR ORDERING IS ONLY $150.00 PAID C.O.D. Well worth the price for produce. Of course, Winter months are slightly limited, but check out what you can still order. Also, with Spring and Summer months arriving soon--not soon enough for us--it is a great time to think about where your food comes from and how it gets here.

Any questions, please post here on this thread or you can PM me. I already order for myself and friends--so the more the merrier. We would "split the costs and cases of produce" between us. Enjoy and good eats--

Foodie

 

We are interested too...

 

Tuscarora Organic Growers is one of our regular suppliers at American Flatbread Restaurant and we have been extremely happy with the quality and service they have provided us. We would like to offer the Restaurant as a drop off location if you decide to order organic produce in bulk. Just give us a call at (703)723-7003.

Denice
American Flatbread
Ashburn Hearth

 

OSimpson and others--

Thanks for your input about TOG's produce. I will add you to this list of parties interested in the Buying Club.

Yes, Denice, I already knew that American Flatbread used TOG's produce since I am also in the "Food Business" with a farm and pursuing my Food Science degree. TOG offers some of the best produce in the area. Glad to hear that your franchise uses some of their products.

Other restaurants that uses TOG for produce are--Restaurant Nora, Asia Nora, Harry's Tap Room in Arlington, Kinkead's Restaurant, and Colvin Run Tavern to name a few "high-end" restaurants in the Washington/Baltimore Metro DC areas. With these restaurants using TOG's produce, you can believe how high the quality and quantity of the produce is by their customers. TOG's standards are some of the best in the area.

After visiting TOG recently, I will definitely use them as a supplier for our Mennonite Cafe/Bulk Foods business. Great resources for "foodies".

Also, you can fix your "restaurant meals" at home for half the cost with some of the freshest and local Certified Organic produce to be found in the area. TOG also serves the Baltimore restaurant scene as well as well-known restaurants in PA (Philadelphia and surrounding areas included.) For instance, making your own "homemade organic pizza" with organic whole wheat flour and fresh veggies is great and you do not have to venture out in cold weather.

I think that we will probably do the "drop-off" point closer to the Fairfax/Loudoun County line since it is more of a central place for commuters and "foodies" to obtain their produce orders. Thanks for the offer though of using American Flatbread for a "drop-off" point for deliveries. TOG's drivers have to come further than Broadlands area anyway to deliver produce for their customer base.

If anyone wishes to order Organic Whole Wheat flour from United or other pizza suppliers to make "homemade" pizza at home, drop me a PM and I will give you some leads. In fact, we are having "homemade" pizza made with organic whole wheat flour from United and toppings are the organic veggies from TOG tonight for dinner. Definitely good eats--enjoy!

Foodie

 

Fellow Organic Foodies (and all others)--

Well, I just got an UPDATE on the Produce Buying Club idea that I having been working on. David Robb, General Manager, at Tuscarora Organic Cooperative (see previous posts on this thread for information) emailed and returned my phone calls today regarding my idea of starting a Produce Buying Club for Northern VA areas--starting with Loudoun and then Fairfax counties.

Anyway, David was kind enough to provide me with a "Projected Produce List " of what will be grown and offered for 2008's growing season (March through end of the year 2008) by PA local Amish and Mennonite farmers as well as other local farmers. David said that as a "buying club or cooperative" all we need to do is maintain a $150 MINIMUM ORDER for buying through PA's cooperative (Tuscarora Organic Cooperative--TOG). TOG delivers more than once a week to their customers. (Currently, deliveries are once or twice a week and with the Spring months--more than twice a week will be done for deliveries). TOG delivers to restaurants and its other customers weekly depending on their needs. Our Buying Club would receive once a week deliveries. TOG combines orders on the same delivery route to save time, etc.

TOG uses large hoop greenhouses (as we have on our own farm) for growing produce and also grows alot of produce in the fields of the farms in PA. ALL produce is ONLY CERTIFIED ORGANIC which is great. NO PESTICIDES are used. Of course, if we form a "buying club", we will "split cases" of produce from "Apricots to Zucchini". The quantities can be "split" evenly between families, individuals, or by the pound.

We would pay C.O.D. and no sales tax is charged. You would pay me; and then since I am the Coordinator for the Produce Buying Club, I then in turn would pay TOG. We would meet the truck delivery at one CENTRAL agreed location weekly or bi-weekly and pick-up our orders. We would "divvy up" our orders and bag our own produce, etc.

I would forward the availability list of produce offered weekly. Then you would decide if you wished to order and what to "split cases" if applicable. Check out the attached list. Good eats!!

TOG also delivers to well-known restaurants, Wegmans and Whole Foods Markets, grocers, natural foods stores, and other cooperatives (buying clubs). The more people involved--the cheaper the costs--to purchase produce.

Practically "home delivered" to your doorsteps! What more could you want? No garden mess if you do not have huge lots or a farm like we do! The reason that I am wishing to do is to the expand the horizon of kids, parents, and others to the vast array of what produce is "local and Organic". Since we are NOT set-up on our farm to "direct market" to the public, this is another way for you to meet local farmers and farms.

See below attached Produce Availability List with projected dates, etc. PM or post interest here. We order from TOG ourselves for produce that we do NOT grow currently on our farm.

Good eats--

Foodie & Family

 

I will post the Produce Availability List tomorrow. I have trouble uploading the files to the thread. Oops!

It will be posted tomorrow on this thread. Good night--

Foodie

 

Fellow Foodies--

After putting kids to bed earlier tonight, I finally got around to uploading the Tuscarora Cooperative Produce List for 2008 that David Robb emailed me recently. I had to convert David's email from an Excel file to a Text file.

The attached list should give "y'all" some idea of what is available for a Buying Club. Of course, the further the growing season--the better the selection of fruits and veggies to choose from. All produce is CERTIFIED ORGANIC, of course.

Please read the previous threads and post if you are interested on this thread or you may PM me. Feel free to ask me what certain produce items are if you are unfamiliar with the variety or type of produce. As we get further along in the season, I will post prices, etc. TOG emails me Availablity List of what is available for delivery 2 or 3 times a week.

Thanks again for your interest. There will be also seedling plants available, berries, heirloom veggies, and other produce items. We may work out where TOG may be able to deliver to Broadlands area where it is convenient for us to "divvy up" produce items. I shall keep you posted.

Enjoy--and have a blessed Memorial Day weekend and be safe--

Foodie

 

Fellow Foodies--

I forgot to attach this week's Produce Availability List from TOG for 05/23/08.
This is an example of how the list looks weekly. The Weekly Produce List that is emailed to me will show the CURRENT Prices (by the case and/or bunch--depending on item).

Any questions or concerns after you have read my previous posts, please feel free to PM or post here under this thread.

Foodie

 

Fellow Organic Foodies--

I have just looked at the email from Tuscarora Organic Cooperative (TOG) for 05/27/08, Tuesday through 05/28/08, Wednesday. TOG has GREAT food and plants for your garden that are CERTIFIED ORGANIC.

I buy my herb plants from TOG yearly; and we grow alot of the produce for ourselves. For those of you interested in canning and freezing your own produce, this is a great way to purchase LOCAL, ORGANIC, AND SUSTAINABLE FOODS. Also, I can provide seminars or tips on how to can or freeze your produce. Also, if you need to know what certain varieties of plants and produce are, please feel to PM or ask here on this thread.

With the cost of fuel for transportation rising, this is a great way to save money and time for yourself and your family. Also, the United Food Buying Club, is another way to shop and save time/money. (Yes, another "plug"! We have several Broadlanders participating already in the UNFI Buying Club.)

We hope everyone has a safe and great Memorial Weekend. If you wish to get started on the Produce Buying Club idea, please let me know.

Below is the attached list for the end of May 2008. Do not forget to read the information about the products, etc. Recipes can also be provided.

Enjoy and good eats!

Foodie