With the economy in the doldrums, many families are looking for ways to make the most of their income. I’ve discussed ways to save money on food in the past, but one tactic that I’ve not covered are food co-ops.
Co-ops are essentially social collectives that work together to make food more affordable or accessible to people. Most co-ops are focused on making local or natural food more readily available to its members. Some, however, help make food more affordable by buying in bulk and passing the savings on to their members.
One such organization is Angel Food Ministries, which – contrary to what its name may imply – is neither a charity nor a denominational organization. Instead, it provides balanced, affordable food to anyone who is interested in purchasing groceries through their monthly, pre-set menus. They claim that their offerings, which typically cost about $30, would cost about $60-$65 if purchased in a grocery store. They’re able to pass on significant savings to their buyers because they purchase restaurant-quality food from distributors in bulk at steep discounts.
Their basic “regular box” runs about $30 and is intended to provide balanced nutrition for a family of four for a week, or for one person for close to a month. When a buyer purchases a regular box, they can add on optional purchases, such as a box of fresh fruit and veggies, or a box of frozen meat.
In order to participate, you simply need to find a host site located near you, and then contact the host site with your order after you’ve looked over their monthly menu.
Delicious
Digg
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Facebook
Google