When Leslie invited Mom and I along for a ride to the Boise Co-op and its Harvest Festival, Mom was skeptical about what many places call "organic" produce. We had gone to a place in Donnelly that advertised this, and most of the produce is what is sold in the local supermarkets. But once Mom took a look at much of the product that the Boise Co-op has to offer, she changed her mind.
The Boise Co-op is located on Fort Street in Downtown Boise. It has the greatest variety of organically grown local produce, free range meats, and other items such as soaps and other toiletries. One could go crazy in this place with its variety of foods and hippie atmosphere.
Mom was wearing her granny square poncho that her mother crocheted for her about 35 years ago. With the hippie-ish clientele that was milling about the Co-op, Mom felt right in place there and got many compliments from several patrons! Leslie and I want to make homemade lip balms, and our friend Anya from Good Scents here in Meridian recommended we go to the co-op for our ingredients. We were able to get sweet almond oil and flavored essential oils for a reasonable price. I wanted to price comfrey for my acne rosacea, and it was something I will get on a later trip because I was on a tight budget this trip. Mom and I also got white eggplant at $1.69 a pound, exotic, reasonably priced, and pesticide free. Other goodies Mom and I bought was Chicken Pesto Parmesan sausage ($7.99/pound) and Albacore Tuna Steaks ($7.99/pound). Be prepared to spend a little bit more at the Co-op, but the quality and organic products are well worth it. If you have pets, the Co-op has organic dog and cat food and snacks for your pampered pets!
The people who work at the Boise Co-op are very nice. I got talking with one lady who worked there about my acne condition, and she recommended some products they carry that could help it and was very helpful.
The Boise Co-op is open seven days a week, and the prices listed are membership prices. If you don't have a membership, prices are 10% more. It costs to get a membership at the Co-op, but if you are over 63, you get a free membership. Mom qualified for a free membership, and she signed up for one since I will be returning to the Co-op for Comfrey and other items in the near future.