Whenever we give presentations, we always get asked “How Can I Get Cheap Produce?” or “I eat organic. How can I get cheaper produce?”
My answer. Join a CSA. (Community Supported Agriculture)
Definition of a CSA: 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. (like meat, eggs, etc.) 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.
A CSA is a great way to ultra-fresh (and organic if that is your thing) from local producers in a convenient and cost-effective way. Is it $.69 a pound apples? No – but the apples you’ll get will taste like candy in comparison and will still be reasonably priced. And you won’t get kiwis in your basket because the farmers only grow items that do well in our climate and soil. But since you get it when its picked, your peaches or corn won’t sit on a truck for a week. (hmm…getting hungry thining about Andy’s Candy Corn…)
For my local peeps – on Saturday, March 27 and April 3 the Kansas City Food Circle is holding their 12th Annual Exhibition of Farmers. (And it is FREE.) This expo features local producers who specialize in organic and non-organic CSAs and free-range meats, dairy and eggs. It also is a great way to become educated about CSAs and variety we have in our area and meat the farmers producing them.
Okay, naysayers. I know some of you are saying – “We go our Farmer’s Market or we grow a garden.” If you do GREAT. So do I. But I’ve realized that I can’t grow enough sweet corn (at least not what our family consumes) or peaches in my yard. And I’ve become skeptical of some Farmer’s Market booths because the produce looks like it came off a semi-truck – complete with sticker. For our family, a CSA compliments the produce from our garden and I know where it was grown because I’ve met the farmer.
So, if you are interested in local grown, fresh produce (including organic) that is reasonably priced, I encourage you to check our local CSAs.
Anybody else out there a member of a CSA? What is your experience?
