"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" -- Hippocrates
Our Review of MannaMarket
A surprise box of fresh, vibrant, colorful organic fruits and veggies for your family every other week? Sounds good, doesn't it? We thought so! As soon as we moved to Alabaster, we started looking for what options for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) were available in the area. After asking around with our new neighbors, we discovered MannaMarket Organic Co-op and Food Hub and decided to give it a try. With many pickup locations available in the South Birmingham area, there happened to be a location minutes from my husband's work place in Hoover.
For our first try, we ordered a half-order box, which for our family of two adults and two picky kids, sounded like the perfect amount. We also added free-range pastured eggs, since I'm a big believer in happy chickens. Then, we waited for the surprise! Our first box contained a rainbow assortment of apples, oranges, bananas, blueberries, avocado, carrots, tomatoes, kale, lettuce, cucumber, broccoli and more! I love the surprise of getting veggies we may not be used to eating. It forces me out of my comfort zone and allows us to discover new recipes. For instance...what to do with kale? I found a recipe for white bean, chicken and kale soup! Delicious!
Also included in the box was a "green bag" with instructions to store produce in the bag for a longer life. Two weeks later, I discovered a forgotten cucumber in the green bag. To my shock and delight, the cuke was just as crisp and crunchy as if I had just gotten it. The green bag really worked and my food and money spent was saved.
Our second half-order box contained some of the same things as the first, but also several different items. A bag of green beans was new, and they were so good (stirfried in garlic and butter) that my husband and I had to reluctantly share some more with our eldest son, who demanded seconds. I hope we get those again!
Combining a great box of organic food and super attentive customer service (we had some troubles retrieving our first box, because hubby arrived past pick-up time), we definitely give MannaMarket two thumbs up!
The Buzz About the Biz
MannaMarket uses a Bio Dynamic Organic Farming System in Shelby County and has been in business for seventeen years. Robyn Mitchell, of MannaMarket, told me this week they are already busy, "frantically" planting at the farm this week! I love knowing that purchasing these boxes supports local agriculture and that the food is fresher and healthier when it comes straight from the farm to our table. The co-op also works with associated farms to bring you foods not grown locally, like organic bananas.
In addition, to several different sized boxes to suit your family (why not split a large one with a neighbor to save money?), you will also find many other products and specialty foods that you can add to your box, such as pure juices, organic cheeses, oils, nuts, grains, dairy, essential oils, cosmetics and free range pastured chicken and duck eggs. In the near future, Robyn says they may have quail eggs! You just never know what treasures may turn up.
Are you ready to try a MannaMarket farm box? Boxes are distributed every other Tuesday to locations throughout the South Birmingham area. Click HERE for current locations and be sure to reach out to Robyn if you need help finding the one closest to you. Order by this Thursday, March 2nd, to get your first box Tuesday, March 7th. Refer a friend to order, and get your next half-order box for fifty percent off!
Here is their contact information:
Robyn Mitchell
Website: www.mannamarket.net
Facebook: @MannaMarket
Email: orders@mannamarket.net
Phone: 205-566-2533
**SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR READERS**
Get 15% off first time orders for 1/2 box (HERE) and full box (HERE)
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Publisher's Note: We would like to thank MannaMarket for allowing us to review their farm box in exchange for some complimentary boxes in the future. Though we have been compensated for this article, our opinions are entirely our own! Thank you MannaMarket for sponsoring Macaroni Kid South Birmingham in this way and helping to bring this valuable FREE resource to our community!
