One might think such delicacies would come at a high price or that belonging to a group would cost more than buying at a grocer or city market. Not so, some say. I spend less through a co-op. You don't have to go through the supermarket, the middle man. The community agriculture group has about 30 members.
Members also cite the intangible benefits of belonging to agriculture groups and cooperatives.
While Laurie Bomba savors locally grown produce, the Fairway resident was motivated to join an agriculture group by health, environmental and political reasons. There was information that baby foods contained dangerously high residues of pesticides. Bomba said she tries to support local farmers. Apparently, consumers like Bomba are having an effect on the market. The success of organic grocers such as Wild Oats and Whole Foods Market is forcing conventional grocers to stock organic products, according to a recent story in The Packer , a trade publication for the produce industry.