Today marks the start of my local CSA, I have been looking forward to this week since our CSA ended last December.
There is nothing like picking up a fresh box of produce each week sourced from a local farm that was picked out of the ground either that morning or a day or two before. You take a risk when joining a CSA, never knowing how your farmers crop is going to turn out, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take.
What is a CSA?
A CSA stands for community supported or shared agriculture. You are purchasing a share from a local or regional farm and in return you receive a crop of various vegetables and fruits. The pick-up is generally in a location convenient to your home and there are many different CSAs with different offerings all over the city. Depending on the share you choose it can cost anywhere from $400-600 for the season (about 20 weeks) and is payable up front. This is enables your farmer to plan his or her season.
This is the second year I am participating and I am amazed at how much it has changed my eating habits. I now do my best to eat seasonally and to have one or two vegetarian or meat light meals a week. During the peak of my CSA season, I definitely focus more on the vegetable aspect of my dinners and protein is more of an accompaniment.
I also decided to do a few add-ons that I did not participate in last year. This year, along with my vegetable and fruit share, I will be getting half a dozen eggs each week (Have you ever had farm fresh eggs? No? Well you should, they are delicious.) and a mystery jarred item. Our farmer keeps bees, so I might end up with honey, something pickled or salsa.
Each week, I’ll recap what I’ve received in my CSA share, starting with tonight!
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