Sunday, October 4, 2009

Cause It's Good for Us: Community Supported Agriculture

Yesterday, my neighbor and I discussed sustainable and healthy eating and the great concept of community supported agriculture (CSA). In short, CSA is the "produce delivery in a box."  Here's the scoop, directly from Local Harvest, a website devoted to eating locally.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a "membership" or a "subscription") and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.
This arrangement creates several rewards for both the farmer and the consumer. In brief...

Advantages for farmers:
  • Get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin
  • Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm's cash flow
  • Have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow
Advantages for consumers:
  • Eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
  • Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
  • Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season
  • Find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm – even veggies they've never been known to eat
  • Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown 
It's a fun and easy way to support local farmers and to expand your palate.  To find your local CSA and to join, click on the Local Harvest link below.  Have fun!  Do Good!  Get Started!


 


 

 All images from the Local Harvest website.

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