Summer Bulk Purchases

Posted by ScottS on April 30th, 2008 at 1:28 pm | 5 Replies

With the main growing season starting, one of the areas that we all might be a bit more local and sustainable is to look at purchasing in volume fresh veggies and/or fruits. For example, asparagus is just coming into season and if we purchased in volume, we may get a better discount that from buying at the farmers market or the Coop.

The idea behind this forum thread then is to post a reply to this message that lists a fruit or vegetable that one is interested in buying in bulk. Then under that individual posting, others can reply if they would like to cooperate. This will keep the thread fairly manageable in scrolling through it to find a in-season bulk purchase item.

Thanks!

Scott

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ScottS
May 2nd, 2008

Local Beef

I apologize in advance to our vegetarians in our group, but I want to get a thread started on possible group purchases on local natural beef (and/or other meat products). I know, I know - cattle are the worst thing in our global food economy but I just not ready to give it up....

Anyway, I know that Anneliese & Casey have been doing research on best options on buying local natural beef so I haven't really been researching this topic at all. But I did want to share that I have been talking this "group purchase" idea up with a number of people and I have at least 6 family units that are very interested in buying natural (organic?) beef in bulk. This might equate to 3 or 4 heifers. I think if we can get commitments (via a deposit process) like this, we would be able to go to a cattle rancher and possibly get a much better deal than just one or two of us going at odd times. In addition, if we are forced to send the animals out of the area for processing, it will be way more efficient to truck a bunch of cattle than one at a time.

So, if people are interested, let see if we can get a process figured out, possibly a cattle producer selected and start negotiating so we can get solid commitments from everyone and be able to schedule this processing for this fall.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Scott

jpandco
June 4th, 2008

Re: Local Beef

Scott

I have a small co-op and can produce beef on a small scale

up to about 50 steers per annum.

My biggest problem is to get people committed. Most people do not want to stock pile large quantities of frozen meat incase freezers and or the elect. power fails.

My steers are born on my land from 100% organic mothers. I bred them from cows and have my own bulls. I do not believe in frozen semen or artificial insemination. They do not get any, I mean ANY, vaccinations.

They do not get ANY growth hormones or any thing else other than water, salt and minerals, grass that grows on my land or other rented pastures and organic hay in the winter. I slaughter them myself.

It cost more to produce cattle like this because the failure rate is higher and the growth rate is obviously much slower that "pumped" up beef on steroids.

Contact me should an individual or a group of people decide to share a steer

regards Johan

----- Original Message -----

From: ScottS

To: Boise Sustainable Living Community

Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 1:18 PM

Subject: Local Beef

I apologize in advance to our vegetarians in our group, but I want to get a thread started on possible group purchases on local natural beef (and/or other meat products). I know, I know - cattle are the worst thing in our global food economy but I just not ready to give it up....

Anyway, I know that Anneliese & Casey have been doing research on best options on buying local natural beef so I haven't really been researching this topic at all. But I did want to share that I have been talking this "group purchase" idea up with a number of people and I have at least 6 family units that are very interested in buying natural (organic?) beef in bulk. This might equate to 3 or 4 heifers. I think if we can get commitments (via a deposit process) like this, we would be able to go to a cattle rancher and possibly get a much better deal than just one or two of us going at odd times. In addition, if we are forced to send the animals out of the area for processing, it will be way more efficient to truck a bunch of cattle than one at a time.

So, if people are interested, let see if we can get a process figured out, possibly a cattle producer selected and start negotiating so we can get solid commitments from everyone and be able to schedule this processing for this fall.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Scott

burtonridr
May 5th, 2008

Re: Local Beef

I was just talking to my better half the other day about doing this.... I would like some more information, we are very interested.

ScottS <Scott.Swendsen@> wrote:

I apologize in advance to our vegetarians in our group, but I want to get a thread started on possible group purchases on local natural beef (and/or other meat products). I know, I know - cattle are the worst thing in our global food economy but I just not ready to give it up....

Anyway, I know that Anneliese & Casey have been doing research on best options on buying local natural beef so I haven't really been researching this topic at all. But I did want to share that I have been talking this "group purchase" idea up with a number of people and I have at least 6 family units that are very interested in buying natural (organic?) beef in bulk. This might equate to 3 or 4 heifers. I think if we can get commitments (via a deposit process) like this, we would be able to go to a cattle rancher and possibly get a much better deal than just one or two of us going at odd times. In addition, if we are forced to send the animals out of the area for processing, it will be way more efficient to truck a bunch of cattle than one at a time.

So, if people are interested, let see if we can get a process figured out, possibly a cattle producer selected and start negotiating so we can get solid commitments from everyone and be able to schedule this processing for this fall.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Scott

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ScottS
April 30th, 2008

Asparagus

I am interested in buying a fair amount of asparagus this spring for both canning and freezing. I did a little searching and this is what I have found so far:

Boise Farmers Market - $3.50 a pound but I talked briefly with one of the organic farmers who might be interested in supplying me with a larger quantity for a cheaper price. I am planning on talking to them again this coming Saturday (5/3).

In addition, I called into Cabalo's Orchards & Gardens in Kuna. Supposedly, they use an organic certified pesticide spray but their manure is non-organic and they use the THRIVE compost tea from Zamzows. They do not have a u-pick-em for asparagus and they will have limited quantities of regular asparagus for $1.99 and purple asparagus for $2.99 a pound. I could not find any other U-pick-ems around.

Finally, Symmns Fruit Ranch out past Caldwell has asparagus for sale - currently #2 is 60 cents a pound and # 1 is $1.75 a pound. They do spray and are non-organic but they have a high-tech 20 minute water cooled washing process that all of their veggies & fruits go through. They would be willing to sell a volume for less than the going price. They also suggested waiting until next week as temps will be warmer and the resulting crop will be much better and prices might drop even more.

So if anyone is interested, please reply to this message. According to the canning recipes, it takes about 25 pounds of asparagus for 7 quart jars so I am probably going to want 75 pounds or so myself (for both freezing & canning). If I go with the organic farmer at the market, I would need to let them know Saturday how much we are looking for so they can bring it with them the Saturday following.

Thanks!
Scott

Anneliese
April 30th, 2008

Re: Asparagus

We'd be interested in organic asparagus. We might want to freeze
some - I'll check with Kevin on how much. But certainly a few pounds
fresh.
Ann
On Apr 30, 2008, at 2:52 PM, ScottS wrote:

I am interested in buying a fair amount of asparagus this spring
> for both canning and freezing. I did a little searching and this is
> what I have found so far:
>
> Boise Farmers Market - $3.50 a pound but I talked briefly with one
> of the organic farmers who might be interested in supplying me with
> a larger quantity for a cheaper price. I am planning on talking to
> them again this coming Saturday (5/3).
>
> In addition, I called into Cabalo's Orchards & Gardens in Kuna.
> Supposedly, they use an organic certified pesticide spray but their
> manure is non-organic and they use the THRIVE compost tea from
> Zamzows. They do not have a u-pick-em for asparagus and they will
> have limited quantities of regular asparagus for $1.99 and purple
> asparagus for $2.99 a pound. I could not find any other U-pick-ems
> around.
>
> Finally, Symmns Fruit Ranch out past Caldwell has asparagus for
> sale - currently #2 is 60 cents a pound and # 1 is $1.75 a pound.
> They do spray and are non-organic but they have a high-tech 20
> minute water cooled washing process that all of their veggies &
> fruits go through. They would be willing to sell a volume for less
> than the going price. They also suggested waiting until next week
> as temps will be warmer and the resulting crop will be much better
> and prices might drop even more.
>
> So if anyone is interested, please reply to this message. According
> to the canning recipes, it takes about 25 pounds of asparagus for 7
> quart jars so I am probably going to want 75 pounds or so myself
> (for both freezing & canning). If I go with the organic farmer at
> the market, I would need to let them know Saturday how much we are
> looking for so they can bring it with them the Saturday following.
>
> Thanks!
> Scott
>
>

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