In researching eating healthier, there’s lots of advice to consider: eat organic, eat whole foods, eat low-carb. It can certainly get confusing! With all of that conflicting information out there, it can be hard to know what to do. But the best advice I’ve heard is to eat local. Food is most nutritious when it’s just picked, and getting it local assures you of getting the freshest possible food. While farmer’s markets provide good access to local farm produce, an even better way to get fresh local food each week is to join a C.S.A.
What is C.S.A.? Well, it stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Owning a share in a C.S.A. is actually similar to owning a share of stock in a company. In this case, the company is a farm. And instead of receiving a share of earnings as cash, as you would with stock dividends, you receive a share of the farm’s bounty in its produce!
We were on the waiting list for Vollmecke Farm C.S.A., which is a local farm about 15 minutes from our house that has fruit and vegetable shares as well as an egg share. Then, two weeks before the season started, we were notified that there was an opening! I jumped at the chance to get a share and be a part of a C.S.A. for the first time. Not only does it feel great supporting a local farmer, but I really enjoy knowing where my food comes from, how it was farmed, and that my farmer uses sustainable farming practices.
We had our first pick-up last week (see the picture above), and will be making our second pick-up today (which will include three dozen eggs in addition to fruit and veggies). A full share of fruits and veggies cost us around $800 for 23 weeks of food. Our first share had snow peas, rhubarb, asparagus, kale, spinach, mint, and romaine lettuce. We also spent $6 to pick two quarts of strawberries at our members-only price.
It takes some work getting used to getting your produce from a C.S.A. Because you’re getting fresh produce, all the food is in-season. You’re not going to find strawberries in August, or pumpkins in June. So if you’re used to eating the same foods every week, you’re going to have to stretch outside your comfort zone a bit. That means looking up recipes, and finding ways to use produce you wouldn’t typically dare to buy at the grocery store. At the same time, trying new foods can be a lot of fun!
We are fortunate enough to live near a farm, but many farms will drop off C.S.A. shares at a central location, like a local city, for those who live far from the farm. Those who live nearby can visit the farm to pick up their shares, as well as participate in pick-your-own days and farm events. Visiting “your farm” can be a fun and educational experience!
So in summary, here’s some pros and cons of being a part of a C.S.A.:
Pros
- Support a local business
- Know your farmer – know your food
- Fresh food is more nutritious
- Variety (of food) is the spice of life!
- Share in the bounty when the farm does well
- Access to the farm for pick-your-own and special events
Cons
- Unfamiliar foods or foods you don’t like may go to waste
- May still purchase your favorite produce elsewhere if it isn’t in your share
- Up-front cost can be difficult to afford
- If the farm does poorly, your share may be small
- Picking up your share could be inconvenient
Is joining a C.S.A. right for you? Only you can answer that! If you’re not sure, try purchasing from a local C.S.A. at the farmer’s market and ask about their farming methods, cost of a share, and what was in their share each week. By a few unfamiliar foods and learn how to prepare them. If that works for you, then joining a C.S.A. is a natural next step! I hope you love it! Local to the Philly area? Click on the “Eat Local Philly” button in my sidebar for a great site that helps you find places to purchase local food for your family.
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