Why I love my CSA (it's more than the weekly box of fresh produce)
If you're looking for fresh, locally grown food this summer, a Community-Supported Agriculture program might be the answer
I might never have fallen in love with kohlrabi had I not joined a CSA.
Signing up for a Community-Supported Agriculture program means getting a box of produce from local farms every week or two. It's a way to take advantage of summer's bounty, discover new fruits and vegetables, and support the folks who grow food in your area.
The basic idea: Customers buy a “share” of a farm’s harvest before or at the beginning of the growing season. That helps the farmers with cash flow, and the customer is rewarded with fresh, seasonal food and good value.
There are thousands of CSAs around the U.S. A share typically costs somewhere between $400 and $700 for the season, depending on its size, the items included and how long the growing season lasts. Sometimes, the food is delivered — usually weekly — either to your home or to a communal pickup spot. (I took part in one at my office, and another at my kids’ school.) Sometimes people pick up their shares at the farm.
Besides produce, farmers might also include items such as honey, meat, flowers, dairy products and so on, and be able to charge accordingly.
Many CSAs invite customers to put in time on the farm, growing and harvesting food. Some offer a discount for those who do. In other CSAs, working on the farm is part of the agreement for all members. It’s a great way to show kids how food is grown and the work entailed in farming.
Benefits to consumers include:
— Healthy, seasonal food. You will almost certainly include more fruits and vegetables in your cooking. And boy, will they be fresh.
— Appreciating where food comes from. It's heartening to be part of
Read more on abcnews.go.com
