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Let’s face it, the world is not built for single people.
Bunch of bananas? Those are going brown on my counter. Whole head of lettuce? Will be thrown out in shame in two weeks when it starts to smell.
Cooking for one is difficult. And as someone who loves to cook and cares about sustainability, it feels nearly impossible to pull off without throwing out food.
When grocery stores seemed daunting during the early months of the pandemic, I went on a hunt for local produce boxes. I thought it would be the best of both worlds: I would save myself a trip to a public space while supporting local organizations and farms.
I tried four different produce boxes, disappointed in all of them because the portions are easily for a family of four despite claiming to be for two people. As a single person, I was wasting just as much as if I bought from the store.
That’s when I found LittleJohn Produce Box Project. This nonprofit was born out of a pandemic problem. Founder Alexandra LittleJohn started buying produce from local suppliers whose normal restaurant clients had dried up due to pandemic closures.
Now, it’s turned into a nonprofit that offers locally grown, restaurant-quality produce for either delivery or pick-up in Denver and Boulder, while also addressing food insecurity through its donation program.
Courtesy of LittleJohn Produce Box Project
The fruit and vegetable options included in the Balanced Box from LittleJohn Produce for the week of Nov. 1, 2021.
Courtesy of LittleJohn Produce Box Project
The fruit and green options included in the Organic Box from LittleJohn Produce for the week of Nov. 1, 2021.
Courtesy of LittleJohn Produce Box Project
The fruit and avocado options included in the Fruit Box from LittleJohn Produce for the week of Nov. 1, 2021.
Courtesy of LittleJohn Produce Box Project
The fruit and vegetable options included in the Single Lady Box from LittleJohn Produce for the week of Nov. 1, 2021.
LittleJohn Produce normally offers four different boxes: The Balanced Box (fruit + veggies) for families priced at $27, Organic Box (veggies + greens) for families for $42, the Fruit & Avocado Box for $22, and my personal favorite, the Single Lady Box (fruit + veggies), for singles or pairs at $17.
The veggies and fruit offerings change week to week, according to what’s available, and there currently is a Thanksgiving box being offered.
For me, the Single Lady Box is the perfect portion for a bi-monthly subscription. I eat the more perishable stuff in the first week and use up the rest in the second.
The best part about this organization is how flexible it is. When I’m out of town for my pickup day, I can easily change days, skip a week or even donate my box while I am away.
Plus, this company is all about community. The pickup locations are at neighborhood businesses, so I love to treat myself to a coffee at Copper Door Coffee Roasters while I’m there. LittleJohn even offers add-ons like sourdough loaves from Rebel Bread or fresh eggs from Amish Acres.
And if you have money to spare, you can buy community boxes that go to families facing food insecurity in your own city.
Check out LittleJohn Produce on Instagram each Tuesday to see the local box offerings each week.
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