Over the last 20 years, community supported agriculture (CSA) has been gaining in popularity; it’s not just for hippy tree-huggers anymore. Yes, I am aware that some of you think I am more than a little crunchy-granola but hear me out on this one. As we learn more and more about the need for fresh produce, particularly vegetables, in our diets we are looking for healthier, less expensive and more community-minded options for our foods. Farmers saw this need and began to offer full and half shares or subscriptions to their farms for local consumers. The idea is that a customer pays a monthly or seasonal fee and in return they receive a weekly share or half share (you decide the size of your share based on the amount of food you think you will use) of the harvest and, depending on the farm, possibly other items such as meats, eggs or flowers. The manner of distribution differs by farm. Some will provide a pre-packaged box every week while others allow the shareholders to choose a pre-determined number of each item. If the shareholder decides they do not want a particular fruit or veggie they can simply “donate” it. Depending on the farm, this donated produce will then be available for other shareholders to take in addition to their share or it will be given to a local food bank.
What are the benefits of a CSA?
- I know where my food is coming from. With the outbreak of salmonella-laced eggs and E. coli-covered spinach, I find it much more comforting to see the farm where my food is produced and to know the values of the farmer(s) who are growing it. Does it guarantee that I will never get a food-borne illness? No…but it sure does decrease my chances.
- I have the opportunity to try a variety of fruits and veggies that I might not normally eat. I have spent the last few summers “borrowing” my friend’s share at the Sankanac CSA when they were out of town. In those weeks, I have received watermelon, mounds of basil, tons of lettuce and piles of tomatoes. In addition, we’ve experienced a red curry squash, celeriac and turnips. Definitely not foods that would make it onto my regular shopping list but since they were there and part of the share for the week I decided to get creative. Googling recipes seemed to be a regular occurrence over the summer. Some creations were successful, some not so much, but it was always an adventure in healthy eating.
- My kids were more likely to try a veggie that they helped me bag up at the CSA. The novelty of getting our food at a farm somehow seemed to make those strange foods more appealing.
- I know I am getting my food at the peak of freshness. Fruits and veggies may still be edible for quite some time after harvesting but their nutrient values begin to dramatically decrease from the moment they are picked. So, if you want the most bang for your buck, nutritionally-speaking, eating fresh-picked produce is the healthiest way to go.
The downside to purchasing a share in a CSA is the same as the farmer’s. If something affects the plants – a blight, dry weather, excessive rain, pest problems – then the harvest will be small. That’s a risk you take when dealing with a CSA. Last summer was particularly hot and dry and there were several crops that did not fare well in the drought-like conditions. However, I found that while there were some items that were not in abundance, I still had plenty to choose from each week. In fact, it was more than enough food for my family of six.
Okay, now that I’ve piqued your interest you might be wondering where you can find that perfect CSA for your family. Each farm offers different produce, different prices and different locations so it can be confusing to find the right one for your family. The best directory I’ve found for searching out local CSAs is Local Harvest where you can enter your zip code and see a listing of all the CSAs near your home. At Eat Local Philly you will find more personalized accounts of some of the area CSAs. Jo-Lynne at Eat Local Philly is always looking for reviewers for local farms and CSAs so if one of your favorites isn’t on her site just drop her a line and write a review.
Joining a CSA is a great way to get involved in your community and to kick-start your family’s healthy eating habits. Think spring and give it a try. Once you’ve returned from the farm, stop back and let me know what you think.
