Good Food Box = Great Deal

The Good Food Box is an alternative, community based, food distribution system that provides a variety of quality food at an affordable price for families and individuals from all backgrounds.  It works like a co-op.   The more people that buy into the program, the more they can buy at wholesale prices and therefore the more bang for your buck.  

 Apparently there are hundreds of good food box programs across North America.   My local program is part of the services of the Quinte Community Development Council.   The dietician I am seeing suggested I join the program as she thought it would help me get out of a food "rut" and encourage met to eat more fruits and veg (and save $$$ too). 

I tried a Community Supported Agriculture share a few years ago and was very disappointed with the results.   It was really expensive for very little return in veggies.   In contrast, the Good Food Box allows you to opt in or out each month depending on your need and is a lot cheaper.   It is out of season now but I am told that in season they work with local producers to to fill the boxes so it is still a great way to support our local farmers. 

So I signed up for a box and popped over to the QCDC office to pay my $10 bucks.  I was pretty skeptical.   I didn't think I would be too impressed with the amount or quality of the produce at all.   Pick up day was scheduled for a few weeks later.   So what did I get for my $10???? 

I got: 4 bananas; 2 kiwis; 1 pear; 1 lemon; 8 apples; 4 big carrots; 1 cabbage; 2 green peppers; 1 red pepper; 1 large spanish onion; 1 broccoli; 1 celery; 1 romaine lettuce; 1 cucumber and 12 potatoes.     

I am sure it is over $20 of good quality produce at 1/2 the price!!!  

The Community Development Council offers 3 different types of Good Food Boxes:  The Good Baby Box filled with baby essentials like diapers and formula (since I don't have a baby I didn't pay much attention to this one).  The single Good Food Box ($10)  which is what I got and the regular Good Food Box ($20), which contains more fruit and produce than the single box plus some canned goods, pasta, rice, bread and margarine.    The contents are different every month depending on what is fresh, or a good price. 

To get a good food box of your very own, you simply head to the QCDC office on Albion St. on the 1st Thursday of the Month and pay for your box(es).   You can order as many as you want.   You can switch between the big box 1 month and the smaller box the next, or you can order 2 small boxes, it really doesn't matter to them.    Once you've ordered your box, head back down to the QCDC office on the 3rd Thursday of the month, with your receipt in hand, and pick up your Good Food Box.  

If you are not in Quinte be sure to ask around to see if you can find a Good Food Box Program in your area OR get together with some friends and start one of your very own!!!!