Are there good options for organic food products - something along the lines of Whole Foods for example or some similar regional business? Here in Va Bch, there is local chain of stores that allow members to order weekly from a large online catalog and then pick up the orders at the end of the week. You can usually order in bulk quantities from such a service and save by doing so. Is there perhaps anything like that in or around Keene? :crazy3:
-Paul in VA
There's a small store in Keene called Blueberry Fields. They have organic produce, health food, I think some no-hormone meat and milk stuff, bulk foods, etc.
The major grocers also have organic/healthy sections. You may want to call Blueberry Fields to see if they offer such an option.
The whole store is organic...doesn't need a section. But yes, I was pleasantly surprised moving to NH, all the main grocery stores in Keene have big natural foods/organic sections - all 3 major grocery stores in Keene.
As long as they sell Bacon, I will be o-k.
Quote from: Kat Kanning on May 27, 2008, 04:34 PM NHFT
The whole store is organic...doesn't need a section. But yes, I was pleasantly surprised moving to NH, all the main grocery stores in Keene have big natural foods/organic sections - all 3 major grocery stores in Keene.
I'll definitely have to check that out when I get there - thanks for the tips. What are the 3 major grocery stores anyway? ;D
Lets see if I remember.
Shaws.
Hannafords
Price Chhopper
How did I do?
PatK gets 100% on his grocery store test!
:worship:
;D
There is an old place on lower main street, looks to be in 'keenes suburb of Swanzey'. ;) that may be a health food market, though it may just be a vitimin store or something.
It's a vitamin store. They have very minimal health food, too.
Quote from: maulotaur on May 27, 2008, 02:46 PM NHFT
Are there good options for organic food products - something along the lines of Whole Foods for example or some similar regional business? Here in Va Bch, there is local chain of stores that allow members to order weekly from a large online catalog and then pick up the orders at the end of the week. You can usually order in bulk quantities from such a service and save by doing so. Is there perhaps anything like that in or around Keene? :crazy3:
-Paul in VA
The nearest Whole Foods is in Bedford, Mass, but we have a couple of large co-ops like you seem to be mentioning above:
United Natural Foods - go to their website http://www.unitedbuyingclubs.com/ and click on "Find a Buying Club Near You". They don't have an automated lookup system yet on their site, so you still have to email them at the address shown on the next page. They'll do a sort and email you back the document of all the buying clubs nearby (give them a Keene zip code to find out who's nearby). Buying clubs have to put in orders for at least $750, which, depending on what you buy, is about a half pallet load of food. They then deliver to the buying clubs designated receiving address, where club members help the driver unload. Buying frequency depends on how big your order size is. There's a buying club in the Earthward Natural Foods store in Amherst that orders twice a week and gets shipments twice a week.
I belong to a United cooperative buying club in Deerfield that has a 4 week order cycle.
Associated Buyers - I was just reminded of this group this past Saturday and got their catalog (somewhat smaller than United's). Their HQ is Barrington, New-Hampshire and it looks like their website is: http://assocbuyers.com. The person that gave me Associated's catalog says she used to buy for a health food store and had to use both sources to get everything the store wanted to sell.
The
Concord Cooperative Market is a store that is run as a co-op: http://www.concordfoodcoop.coop/.
The
A Market is a big natural foods store in Manchester: http://amarketnaturalfoods.com - there are others scattered about the state.
I'll probably be doing an hour presentation on co-oping at the Alternatives Expo tent (site P32) at PorcFest this year. The schedule of presenters is not set yet, but will be on the site: http://AltExpo.org. Be sure to sign up on the site to get email announcements.
There's a coop in Brattleboro - closer to Keene.
Quote from: Kat Kanning on May 29, 2008, 01:33 PM NHFT
There's a coop in Brattleboro - closer to Keene.
Oh I want to go there!
That's the clothing optional coop ;)
Quote from: maulotaur on May 29, 2008, 06:08 PM NHFT
Quote from: Kat Kanning on May 29, 2008, 01:33 PM NHFT
There's a coop in Brattleboro - closer to Keene.
Oh I want to go there!
I like that we are so close to vermont. Yeah, it is a leftist state. But as a friend from there said, the lefties just want to help people, their biggest fault is that they believe they can harness gov't to do the job. :) They are far more activist friendly than the right, in my opinion. The coops, and the civil libertarian nature of many there, and in Keene, is evidence of that.
There are some nice things in VT!
I know a good lady in VT, that makles great pie and
Has a fine son.
Oh yeah the Jarhead lives with them.
D'oh!
;D
Hey Roger see ya in 8 or so days. ;D
Quote from: David on May 30, 2008, 01:46 PM NHFT
Quote from: maulotaur on May 29, 2008, 06:08 PM NHFT
Quote from: Kat Kanning on May 29, 2008, 01:33 PM NHFT
There's a coop in Brattleboro - closer to Keene.
Oh I want to go there!
I like that we are so close to vermont. Yeah, it is a leftist state. But as a friend from there said, the lefties just want to help people, their biggest fault is that they believe they can harness gov't to do the job. :) They are far more activist friendly than the right, in my opinion. The coops, and the civil libertarian nature of many there, and in Keene, is evidence of that.
A lot of the leftists in Vermont are anti-statist, anti-authoritarian types, too.
Massachusetts is the place full o' welfare statists.
Quote from: Kat Kanning on May 27, 2008, 06:06 PM NHFT
PatK gets 100% on his grocery store test!
Well, having gone to all of the places mentioned and checked them out, I would have to say that Price Chopper has the best buys (I got their card). Hannaford was also nice but did not have a place to sit down, and many of the same products are more expensive. Shaws was not too impressive to us. Blueberry Fields might do better if it had a juice bar or something similar, though I see they have very little free space there as it is. I am still checking into the co-ops mentioned in this topic. Anyway, thanks to those who posted details about these sources.
-Paul on the road
I like the produce choice at Hannaford best overall, but the Best Buy has the best greens, and Shaws tends to have ripe bananas more often than the other places.
Quote from: Kat Kanning on June 13, 2008, 06:30 PM NHFT
I like the produce choice at Hannaford best overall, but the Best Buy has the best greens, and Shaws tends to have ripe bananas more often than the other places.
So do you go to all of these places on a regular basis? I imagine that would not be too inconvenient to do since they are in close proximity of each other which I find to be a definite plus for that. I am kinda used to driving all around a huge metro sprawl to do it myself.
-Paul
I went to Blueberry Fields for the first time the other day, mostly just to look around. Bought a yogurt brand called Brown Cow, maple flavor. Prolly one of the best and creamyist yogurt I have ever had. A bit pricy, but very good.