Growing Food Co-op to Open Main Five Forks Branch

On Thursday, The Noisy Rabbit, a Greenville-based food co-op that offers weekly supplies of fresh bulk produce and member-made goods at reduced prices, will open a new major distribution branch in the Five Forks area of Simpsonville, owner Barbi Haase said.

The new branch is located at Five Forks Baptist Church at 112 Batesville Road.

The site will distribute produce baskets to members each Thursday at the church from 4:30 to 6:15 p.m., Haase said.

"This new Five Forks location used to be three Five Forks branches that met in different people's homes in the area, but they wanted to join together and collaborate together and just be one large branch that takes care of all of their members at once every week," Haase said. 

The co-op currently has 458 members, including 61 at the new consolidated Five Forks branch, and more than 20 branches overall throughout the Upstate. Apart from the consolidated Five Forks branch, The Noisy Rabbit has a separate branch in Simpsonville and in Mauldin, Haase said, both operated out of members' homes.

"There's a great opportunity because we have a lot more space for new members in this new branch," Haase said, adding that individual branches usually cap membership at 24 people. "And, it is more centrally located for the Five Forks area."

While non-members won't be able to partake in this week's selection of produce, Haase urged them to drop by anyway to see what the Noisy Rabbit is all about, meet and talk with members, and to sign up. The monthly cost is $60 for four weeks of produce, or $35 for two weeks. The business also charges a $21 membership fee each six months.

If you can't stop by, you may learn more and sign up as a member online at the Noisy Rabbit website.

Haase said by becoming a member, shoppers can save about 50 percent off what they would normally spend at the supermarket for the same items.

"It really is a tremendous cost saver," she said

Each week the co-op offers a new selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, much of it from local farms, depending on the season, Haase said. With selections varying from week to week, Haase said it's a great way to try new foods and learn recipes and cooking tips from other more experienced members.

"I'm really looking forward this week to trying the jicama," said Haase, referring to the sweet, starchy root vegetable.

If a basket contains items members don't like, Haase said members routinely swap items with each other, or donate them to help feed needy local families.

More than just fresh produce, the co-op allows fellowship among members when they pick up their orders. In addition, many members also sell or barter goods such as fresh eggs or goods they have made themselves, including baked goods and jams and jellies.

Haase said the bigger branch in Five Forks will provide more space and more opportunities to buy and sell such goods.

"Being in the church, this will give members a lot more space, a lot more room to market themselves with one another," she said.