We are lucky enough to grow a lot of veggies/herbs in our garden, but need to supplement with items that we don’t grow. Our family eats a lot of whole/fresh foods and I like to source it locally when I can. I have found some great resources that have national distribution networks—we rely on these to fill in to create a healthy diet.

Bountiful Baskets is a food co-op and an amazing place to get very reasonably priced produce. The produce is delivered to a variety of locations on Saturdays—check their website for availability where you live. The conventional basket is only $18 as of June 2020. You get seasonal produce and can purchase when you want—there is no long-term commitment. They have lots of cool extras that you can add each week—some that I have purchased have been unfiltered apple cider vinegar (with the “mother”), cases of corn, peaches, tomatoes and apricots. Again, these are at amazingly reasonable prices—even cheaper than the farmer’s market.

Sprout People is the best resource for sprouting seeds and to learn about everything related to sprouting--they are truly the experts. In our household, we always have some sprouts ready to harvest and try to incorporate them in our daily diet. Sprouts are nutritional powerhouses in a small package. Best thing about sprouting? You don't need a lot of space and can grow them virtually anywhere!

I was so happy when I got an email from Imperfect Foods that they were going to start serving Napa. I immediately signed up for a subscription and have been thrilled with the selection and service. They put together a menu of items each week and you have the ability to add or remove items from your box. I have a big confession to make….I don’t like kale, so I have noted in my account that I don’t want kale to show up in my weekly box. The web platform that they have developed where the consumer can review and update your box is incredibly easy to use. I get so excited when I get the email on Monday that it is time to customize my box. Thursday is my delivery day and I love to see the delivery driver pull up. The company’s goal is to reduce food waste—some of the items are surplus and others aren’t the perfect version that you can purchase in the store. If you eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, this is a great way to ensure that you have fresh produce on hand all week.

I love subscriptions through food companies and there are two that I have belonged to for several years that I highly recommend. I ran into one of the founders of Hamama at the Sonoma County VegFest. They make sprout seed quilts that make growing sprouts so incredibly easy! You simply pour a specific amount of water into the growing tray, place the quilt into the tray and then in 5-10 days, you will see your sprouts come up. Truly, the easiest way to grow sprouts and the quilt can be repurposed or composted. They have a monthly subscription for 3 seed quilts that is currently $17/month and you can customize your selection each month. I heard about the Rancho Gordo Bean Club long before I moved to Napa, where they are located. They have quite the following and many well-known chefs use Rancho Gordo beans at their restaurants. I was on the waiting list to join the club, which they typically have due to high demand, but before long, I was receiving quarterly shipments of beautiful heirloom beans. Even though I live in the same town as the retail store, I still subscribe to the bean club because there is nothing more exciting than opening a box of beans and trying new varieties. The quarterly subscription is $39.95 and you receive 6 one-pound bags of beans plus a grain or other item (I have received spices and cooking chocolate to name a few). If you aren’t able to join the club right away, just order a few pounds of dried beans and have your mind blown!