Veggies & fruit from our CSA have started rolling in! I’ve
wanted to join a CSA (
Community Supported Agriculture) ever since I found out they existed. Location (sometimes
laziness to travel far) and other things always got in the way. This year we
found a CSA with a pick-up location that is a 10 minutes walk from our place. Our
delicious organic veggies come from
The Farm at Miller’s Crossing,
a 200-acre farm in Hudson Valley, New York. We also got a fruit half-share from
Breezy Hill Orchards, a third-party Eco Apple-certified
orchard also located in the Hudson Valley. A single share of veggies a week is
more than enough for my husband & I (see picture for proof). However, I
sort of wish we got a full share instead of a half for fruit. A half share equaled
a batch of organic strawberries that we ate in 3 days. Our CSA also offers shares in Eggs, Pasta, Meat, Herondale Farm Beef
and Chicken, Cheese and Coffee.
There are tons of benefits to joining a CSA. I recommend
researching if your community has one.
- It’s healthy! CSA vegetables are organic and free of harmful
pesticides. Plus there’s nothing like having a batch of fresh veggies delivered
every week to encourage you to cook healthy meals.
- It’s fresh! CSA produce is super fresh and delicious because
it’s hand picked the same day it’s delivered.
- It’s affordable! Most CSAs have no paid staff and there is no
wasteful packaging thus reducing costs. For veggies at our CSA a Single Share: $320 ($14.55 per week) & Double Share: $580 ($26.36 per week); Fruit Full Share: $264 ($12 per week) & Half Share: $176 ($8 per week)...so my husband & I only spend an average of $22.55/week for veggies and fruit ($11.25/person/week)
- It’s good for the environment! CSA is better for the
environment because no chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used, and fossil
fuels are not wasted on long distance transportation.
- It supports a local farm! As more and more small farms are
losing out to ‘agribusiness’, joining a CSA is great way to support a family
farm. Farmers receive payment early in the season, which helps with the
farm's cash flow. We paid for our CSA in full in April, then the picking season begins in
June-November.
CSA involve a ‘shared risk and reward’ agreement, i.e. that the
consumers receive what the farmers grow even with the vagaries of seasonal
growing
- It builds community! CSA is a great way to get to know your
neighbors and get more involved in community activities. We've already gotten invited to some neighborhood block parties/events.
