A look at CSA opportunities in the Jacksonville, Florida area leads to a couple of small-fries home operations and a larger community-run Co-op. The smaller operations come and go on a regular basis, so they don’t tend to be reliable resources for someone looking for a long-term solution to community supported agriculture and fresh organic local foods free of chemicals and additives. Being a member of the best co-op in Jacksonville, Jax Natural Foods, affords you access to high quality natural and organic foods at the lowest possible price.
Jax Natural Foods is so much more than a CSA. Often with a traditional CSA, you have access to small farm-grown produce that is available seasonally. Jax Natural Foods works with a wholesale grocery supplier, a grass-fed meat pasture, a produce supplier, a raw dairy farm, and a wholesale provider that specializes in herbs and spices. The wholesale providers for Jax Natural Foods are United Natural Foods, Peaceful Pastures, Ashlin Farms, Global Organics, Frontier Co-op, and Live Oak Farms. Because they have the most comprehensive list of local suppliers, this is the Co-op that my own family has joined. You can take advantage of all or some of these suppliers when you are a member.
United Natural Foods is the grocery supplier, which means anything you can find in the local grocer, you can buy from United. These items are delivered on a monthly basis and are a fraction of the price you would pay at a large organic grocery store (think Whole Foods).
Peaceful Pastures is the supplier for grass-fed meat. This bulk order is done three times annually. Meat is one of the most highly tainted products in a traditional store, so the quality of a meat supplier is one of the most important choices a Co-op can make. Global Organics is the produce supplier, which is a Florida-based company that provides commercial organic foods to grocery stores. Since we go straight to the supplier, organic produce is available for less than the cost of non-organics from the grocer. Live Oak farms offers families a choice in raw dairy. The co-op receives 100% raw cow’s milk, raw cheeses, raw cream and farm fresh eggs from this farm. And lastly, Frontier offers the bulk herbs and spices.
When you become a full member, you can order from any of the Co-op suppliers. The registration fee is a one-time fee of $65 and the annual membership fee thereafter is $25. If you plan to only order from one of the suppliers, you can become a limited member for $35 and a $15 annual fee thereafter. The buying club also offers on-line ordering and offers training to new members to become acquainted with the ordering website. There is no better choice in Jacksonville Florida for organic, natural foods at an affordable price.
Check out www.jaxnaturalfoods.com to join the best CSA in Jacksonville, FL.