This local produce drawer is actually designed for single people while minimizing waste.

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Let’s face it, the world is not built for lonely people.

Banana bouquet? They turn brown on my counter. A whole head of lettuce? It will be ashamed to be thrown out after two weeks, when it starts to smell.

Cooking for one is difficult. And as someone who loves to cook and cares about the environment, it’s almost impossible to cope without throwing away your food.

When grocery stores seemed intimidating in the early months of the pandemic, I went hunting for boxes of local produce. I thought it would be the best of both worlds: I would save myself a trip to a public place by supporting local organizations and farms.

I tried four different grocery drawers, disappointed with each one because the portions are easy for a family of four, despite the fact that I claim they are for two. As a lonely person, I spent as much as if I had bought in a store.

That’s when I found the LittleJohn Produce Box Project. This non-profit organization came into being because of the pandemic problem. Founder Alexandra Little John began buying groceries from local vendors that had run dry of regular restaurant customers due to the pandemic shutting down.

It has now grown into a nonprofit that offers locally grown restaurant-quality products for delivery or pick-up in Denver and Boulder, and addresses food insecurity through its donation program.

LittleJohn Produce usually offers four different boxes: The Balanced Box (fruits + vegetables) for families at $ 27, Organic Box (vegetables + greens) for families at $ 42, the Fruit & Avocado Box for $ 22, and my personal favorite, Single Lady. Box (fruits + vegetables) for singles or doubles for $ 17.

The vegetables and fruits on offer change weekly depending on what’s available and a Thanksgiving box is currently on offer.

For me, the Single Lady Box is the perfect piece for a two month subscription. In the first week I eat more perishable food, and in the second I use up.