CSA Shopping


Since moving to the Pacific Northwest I've begun eating more and more vegetables. Things that I always thought were bland and even 'gross' taste fresh and delicious here.  I'm sure some of that is age but I think a lot of it has to do with the PNW and how the clean air, clean water and rich soil makes our food taste.  Local and therefore very fresh food is available early in the spring through the late fall.

Many of our local farms offer CSA(Community Supported Agriculture) boxes and in theory it seemed like such a great idea to me.  There are various ways to get involved with CSA.  You can volunteer at a local farm and they give you produce in return for your labor.  You can also pay outright and pick up your box of fresh produce at various pick up points. In researching I've found 7 local farms that offer CSA boxes for pickup at the local farmer's market.  Most farms put out a news letter listing what you get each week in your boxes. For example from Denison Farms the Week 1 of June box would include:
1 bunch red leaf lettuce (from Groundwork Farm)
1 bunch carrots
1 bunch basil
1 head fresh garlic
1 sweet white onion
1 red onion
2# red potatoes
1/2# zucchini
1 basket strawberries.
The average cost of our local CSAs for the year is about 500.00.

I would imagine for a busy family this would be ideal.  Something new and exciting each week and the only work you have to do is pick it up.  Financially it doesn't seem to quite add up to me.  I contacted a few farms and the average labor hours for a box is 15 hours per week.  For 15 hours a week I can get in on a local community garden and plant my OWN vegetables.  For 500.00 for 5 months of vegetables I can go to the farmer's market and pick my own.

My research this weekend decided it for me.  I'll save my 22.72 a week and drive over to the farmer's market and pick the vegetables I like the most with an occasional something new to try out.  Besides, it gives me an excuse to carry around my African Market Basket in public.  ;)

I'm so looking forward to spring and all the delights the PNW offers by way of local/fresh fruits, vegetables, grass fed beef, free range eggs and hormone free homemade cheeses.



A picture of a CSA boxes containing a week's worth of fresh produce.