Question Rise With Possible Future Bountiful Baskets Site

image from www.boutifulbaskets.org

Antelope County may be close to having its first delivery site for Bountiful Baskets, a co-operative program that provides produce and other items at a discounted rate.

According to its website, Bountiful Baskets says it focuses on buying “high quality, low cost and as local as possible.”

The program raises several questions, such as how does this program affect local grocery stores and what “local” products are available.

The Antelope County News contacted an administrator of the “Neligh Basket” Facebook page for Bountiful Basket that is recruiting people to sign up for the program. The ACN was told as a volunteer, she could not speak to the media. No one from Bountiful Basket has replied to the ACN’s request for more information about the organization.

According to their website, Bountiful Baskets is a not-for-profit, volunteer-driven food cooperative that deliver produce, breads and other food products to participants throughout the country. In order to have a delivery location in Neligh, at least 80 people must sign up to participate, according to the Facebook page.

For $15 per basket - with options for different add-ons - participants make contributions online their basket of produce and select additional packages on Mondays. On Saturdays, participants present their contribution confirmations and bring their own bags to load up their food items in their designated baskets at delivery sites.

While Bountiful Baskets may provide another option for more variety in rural areas, what kind of impact will it have on groceries stores in Antelope County? What would happen to these rural grocery stores if 80 or more families stopped purchasing those items locally?

Several groceries stores were contacted for their thoughts on how Bountiful Baskets would impact their store and most chose not to comment.

Leah Erb with TJ’s Market in Orchard didn’t comment directly on the program but said they strive to provide fresh produce at all times.

“We try to keep the basics on hand and offer a pretty good assortment throughout the year that,” Erb said. “Everything on our shelves is USDA approved and date approved.”

She said distributing an abundant, healthy and affordable is TJ’s top priority, and they are willing to work with others to achieve that goal.

Erb also said the TJ’s Market parking lot is a location for local producers to sell sweet corn when it is in season.