xlnt. Farmer's markets are my favorite - back in Brooklyn I was able to do my full week's shopping between the food coop and the saturday farmer's market. I'm not expecting to match that convenience but I'm glad to hear there are a few farmers selling in my immediate neighborhood.

Thanks!

the RTM can't be matched in terms of convenience by any of the smaller markets (except that they're closer). am i wrong in thinking that the amish are also "organic"? plus the RTM is indoors year round.

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"You down wit OPM?"
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I figured. I'm just trying to build a little shopping map for myself taking into account convenience, selection and price. It seems clear that the RTM, the Italian Market and Whole Foods are my main options for serious shopping trips; I also want to know where I can go that's close to pick up a few things. Back in Brooklyn I was very spoiled because the Park Slope Food Coop is practically a superstore, by coop standards, and my local Saturday farmer's market - while not huge - offered a good mix of produce, dairy, eggs and meat. Between the two I never had to go more than three blocks to do virtually all of my weekly shopping. It's clear that I'm not quite as magically well-situated here (on 21st and Walnut) and I'm trying to get up to speed as fast as possible on all my options so I don't end up either (a) walking all the way to the terminal every time I need an onion, or (b) spending big money on crummy lettuce from places that are nearby but substandard.

Everyone's suggestions are terrific. It's great to see that this forum is so active and folks are so helpful...

I did see the Mariposa Coop online. It's about 3 miles from me - not an unreasonable bike-ride shopping destination if I can get a good basket hooked up to my back wheel. Is anyone on here a member? Any thoughts about Mariposa?

I am a big fan of Door to Door organics. You can check them out at www.doortodoororganics.com - it's organic and seasonal and best of all, THEY DELIVER! It's fabulous.

You decide if you want a small box or medium box, and the frequency. We get a small box every two weeks and that seems to be about our speed (we supplement at the occasional farmer's market, etc.). You can also choose favorites, eliminate things you don't like, etc.

I like that they pick for me because sometimes I get stuff like chard, kale or dandelion greens that I wouldn't necessarily have opted for but really like. And they tend to do a recipe with each box in case you're stuck for preparation suggestions.

We order through them all year long.

Oh, and they recycle their boxes (you leave them out and they pick them up).

Give them a try!

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www.taxgirl.com

TRY THIS LINK

http://www.whitedogcafefoundation.org/fairfood.html

ALSO DO NOT FORGET THE FARMERS MARKETS WHILE THERE STILL OUT THIS SEASON
i KNOW THURDAYS 20TH & FAIRMOUNT & SATUDAY FITLER SQUARE (22NDISH & LOMBARD?)

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NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO...THERE YOU ARE

I'm surprised nobody mentioned Trader Joe's on 21st and Market. Almost everything they sell is organic, and very reasonably priced. I've gotten to like Trade Joe's much better than Whole Foods.

True, but Trader Joe's produce is generally expensive, and much of it is prepackaged (for instance, all the lettuces). There are some bargains here and there, and the quality is fine, but it's not the ideal place to do routine produce shopping.

agreed, TJ's produce selection is lacking. this is why I still use whole foods. I also find their stuff hit or miss, personally.

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"You down wit OPM?"
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There are too many organic options to list here. Most of the Amish farmers are probably organic as dondre said is my uneducated guess. We are part of the CSA and get stuff delivered to reading every week. Most of the farms out in Lancaster also deliver up to NYC, ours does. I wouldn't be suprised if a good chunk of NYC's organics came from eastern PA and NJ.

The people in fishtown have some green coop that is more of a stop/shop I think. I've never been there. Reading alone has most everything you'll need. There is also a farmers market on passyunk and south every tues? and one in head house every saturday.

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Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard. - H.L. Mencken

I only buy haas avocadoes at TJ's the tomatoes and potatoes look OK. Their produce section is pretty lean but there are some hidden gems.

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Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard. - H.L. Mencken