What would you say if I offered you a weekly box of ultra-fresh, flavor to the max, organic, nutrient-dense
produce at a reasonable price all while supporting your local farmers? This isn’t a ploy... this is "Community Supported Agriculture."
Community Supported Agriculture, aka "CSA", is a unique agreement between a farm and the local community. In some cases, members pay in advance each year for a weekly share of farm grown produce. There are subscription based options where you pay week by week as well as the option to go with a distributor who acts as a middle man between the local farmers and you!
Each week you will have the privilege of eating vibrant, just-harvested produce. Say goodbye to wilted greens and tasteless tomatoes. Your produce will be harvested when it’s ripe and, in most cases, find its way into your kitchen within a day of being picked. This means better flavor and more nutrient-rich produce.
With a CSA share you can expect the freshest, most local produce, exposure to new vegetables (have you ever tried broccolini? You’ll want to!), an opportunity to learn more about where your food comes from and the ability to support local, small farms and businesses.
You’ll also find that many local farms and produce box subscription companies have other offerings to add on to your weekly delivery such as honey, fresh bread, eggs, meat and seafood.
Now that you’re drooling over the thought of freshly picked organic veggies for dinner tonight, how do you get involved in your own local CSA produce delivery? Start by checking out my recommended options below for those who live in Santa Barbara County. You can also visit Local Harvest - www.localharvest.com that lists over 30,000 family farms and farmers markets, along with restaurants and grocery stores that feature local food all over the U.S..
Weekly subscriptions typically range from $20 - $40/box depending on the amount of produce you would like to receive. I encourage you to contact your local farm or produce delivery service to ask them about prices, amounts of produce distributed, and length of season.
Joining a local CSA or Produce Delivery provides a wonderful opportunity to exercise your creativity in the kitchen! Try new recipes, explore new cooking methods, and challenge yourself to make those weekly repeats in a few different ways.
So...what are you waiting for? Your ultra-fresh, flavor to the max, organic, nutrient-dense produce is in season and ready to be delivered directly to your front porch!
Santa Barbara Produce Delivery services: