The New Orleans Food Co-op presents “Join the Co-op Day!” at Hollygrove Market and Farm on Saturday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 8301 Olive St (in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans).   The event includes live music by Schatzy and friends, fresh grilled local produce, an opportunity to join the New Orleans Food Co-op (www.nolafoodcoop.org), and $25 boxes of seasonal produce for sale. For info call 324-6849.  It’s a great opportunity to join the group, and to check out the urban farming efforts at the Hollygrove Market (fresh eggs, y’all!)

The Food Co-op is working toward a bricks-and-mortar cooperative store, to be located in the New Orleans Healing Center (2372 St. Claude Avenue).  Construction prep started recently, and the Co-op expects to open the market in early 2011.  Check out the store’s proposed design.

The latest entrant into the farm-to-consumer movement in our area is Jack & Jake’s, a market billing itself as “local and organic”, opening soon in the old bubblegum factory at 8300 Earhart Boulevard.  J&J’s will sell produce direct from local farms within 65 miles of New Orleans.  It will also serve as a pick-up location for CSA (community-supported agriculture) shares….a concept new to our area.  In short, the consumer buys a fixed-price share of a farm’s produce, and in turn, he/she receives a weekly allocation of the farm’s produce.  The spacious market location will house local prepared-foods & value-added vendors, too…