Purple Dragon Food Co-op Comes to Millburn-Short Hills

While Millburn/Short Hills is a trendy and chic town, residents are still extremely conscious of the world around them and are eager to take care of each other and their families. I like being a realtor in Millburn/Short Hills because I get to witness the process firsthand in a variety of ways. One way that residents are conscious of caring for each other and their environment is by taking care of what they eat. The Millburn Pod of The Purple Dragon Organic Food Co-op, led by Deena Fried and Judy Summers, is one of the many ways that residents of Millburn/Short Hills are able to accomplish this. The purpose of the Co-op is to provide healthy organic food and support local organic food farmers. The Millburn/Short Hills Pod (or group) consists of 15 families. The Co-op is much bigger than Millburn; we are just a small part of it! The Purple Dragon Co-op is an

organization based in Glen Ridge that buys produce in bulk from local, regional & international organic or sustainable farms and then distributes it to participating members through a network of small community groups called pods. There are pods all over the area.

Fried said that she started the Millburn Pod "many years ago, because I wanted to join the Co-op and there wasn't a group in our town. I was interested in farm fresh organic vegetables because they taste so much better than what is available in the supermarket. Our pod began before Whole Foods came to town. This was (and still is) a wonderful convenient way to have access to the incredible produce." Summers stated that her desire to participate in the Co-op had to do with the fact that "The level of cancer in this state is very high. I don't want to move, but I do want to do what I can to minimize the unhealthy things that we put into our bodies. We have a great community here. People are very involved and willing to take action - I think that makes it easier to attract members and more rewarding as well." Summers added that periodically the Millburn Pod has some turnover. If someone wants to join the Millburn Pod, they can contact her at judyisummers@comcast.net. If the Pod does not have a vacancy at the time, Fried and Summers are open to starting another Pod, or they can join one in an adjoining town and get on the Millburn waiting list.

Every two weeks, each member receives about two grocery bags full of organic fruit and vegetables. A sample delivery may consist of organically grown: NJ blueberries, Pennsylvania kale, green leaf lettuce, mushrooms, yellow squash, Florida green peppers, California carrots, cauliflower, peaches, strawberries, Mexican flame grapes, tomatoes, and Ecuadorian bananas. Summers and Fried have been planning a Co-op "pot luck" picnic. They are looking forward to getting together with the members of our group, sharing recipes and dishes we've prepared with the organic vegetables. Right now the Millburn Pod does have an opening so if you are interested in participating, email Judy Summers and I am sure you will be thrilled to become a part of this environmentally conscious organization.