To CSA Or Not To CSA
image via graygoosie
I have come to the conclusion, after a winter of scraggly, watery kale, bruised zucchini and abused swiss chard, that my cooking has suffered from its being beholden to the grocery store produce aisle. All grocery stores are not created equal, of course. But New York City produce is some of the saddest and mistreated (and yet still overpriced!) you will ever see. Then there are the fancy boutique style grocery stores with their flattering lighting and appealing packaging, but I can’t really cough up the cash to shop there regularly. True, there is the farmer’s market. But call it laziness or a love of sleeping in and puttering around, but I never seem to make it before closing time on Saturdays.
It has come to my attention, however, that a mere two blocks away, a CSA takes over a playground and lets its members chose the loveliest fresh fruits and vegetables. I love the idea of supporting a farm, and interacting each Saturday morning with people in my neighborhood. But members are limited, of course, to whatever arrives from the farm. Which means if you suddenly have a hankering to make a mushroom pizza, you’ll have to make a separate trip to secure your fungi.
(Aside: A mushroom walks into a bar and orders a shirley temple. The bartender says, “We don’t serve your kind here. The mushroom says, “Why not? I’m a fun guy.” Buh-duh-duh.)
So I’m asking for your input and opinions. Do you belong to a CSA? What are the pros and cons, and ultimately, do the benefits outweigh the drawbacks? Should I go for it or resolve to hit the farmer’s market with more frequency this summer? Your sage counsel is requested.
Sara Rose: There are two food coops and two CSA’s around here. Bless farming communities. Anyways, there are also several privately owned farm stands and the town farmers market. HERE, at least, it is far more affordable to shop the farm stands and farmers market. It really does force you to think seasonally, and thats never a negative.
The CSA’s and coops are more spendy and I’ve heard that the quality isn’t that much different than the grocery store. So, I would check into the price of the CSA’s versus shopping the Farmers market. Make sure you are really getting your money’s worth. I understand that not all farmers markets aren’t built the same, and the fact that ours is cheaper may just be an anomaly.
I have also learned to go to different grocers for different things here. A few local grocers do get farm fresh produce from some local farms in the tri-state area, you just have to know when to go and what their shipment are. I have no problems asking tons of questions, especially since I’m paying over a quarter of my family’s budget for food, therefore I want the best for my money.
If you do decide to buck up and go back to grocers, get picky. Ask when they get what shipments in, what times they put out fresh produce, when they chuck the old stuff, etc. If you decide to do the farmers market, it could become a fun Saturday ritual. We love the routine of visiting ours, and Eva really loves it. It’s a fab thing to do when there’s babies to enjoy attention and fresh food.
Whoa. I wrote a novel.2 years ago
Adrienne: I wish I could offer sage counsel, but I just signed up for my first CSA this year and it starts in a month. I’m in Boston, and I found a small share (it’s just me and my bf) which claims to be appropriate for 2 people, for $325 – that works out over 20 weeks to be about $15-16 a week for vegetables. Since the majority of my weekly grocery shopping is for produce, it seemed reasonable to me.
I am worried, as you mentioned, about hankerings for specific items, but there are farmer’s markets just a short walk from my office. The OTHER thing I’m worried about is too much food, but I’m hoping to learn more about canning and pickling, and I would dearly love to use my own canned tomatoes all winter.
I realize this wasn’t a tremendously helpful comment, but I say go for it, and then don’t sign up again next year if you don’t like it. Good luck!2 years ago
Kristi: I’ve done a few seasons of a CSA. What affected us the most was a drought a couple of season’s ago. It really affected the harvest and we didn’t get a very good variety. After a few weeks, I didn’t want to see any more Pok Choi, Bok Choi (Yes we got both) or other Asian greens.
In other seasons, we got far more variety, be prepare for interesting vegetables that you’ve never heard of or would buy (I learned some new recipes) and that some weeks will be dominated by one vegetable – fine if it is weeks of corn, not so good if it is a beets. I split it with my mother and anything that we didn’t think that we would use (or were tired with) went to our neighbors. I hated to waste anything.
Enjoy!2 years ago
Suzy: Lord, don’t ask me. Our local farmer’s market is exactly two blocks away and I almost NEVER make it before closing time. Soul sisters, you & me!2 years ago
Amanda: I love our CSA!
It’s a challenge to finish the box each week, but its wonderful. I’ve made some different and creative dishes because of it. I’ve also been able to try so many greens and vegetables I’ve never had before, like Kohlrabi!
I definitely feel healthier from all the greens we are eating. That is a great plus. I also feel really good about supporting our local farm: South Central Farmers.
If we end up getting overwhelmed with our green stock we take a break for a week from the CSA box and resume the next week.
I hope you end up getting a box!!
Paige: I can’t offer too much help, because I’m joining a CSA in DC. However, before you spend too much time thinking about it, you might want to make sure there are still farms in your area offering shares. I know CSAs around here fill up really fast — I got put on waitlists back in September. But maybe that’s just DC.2 years ago
Lisa (dinner party): I looked into the CSA in Park Slope (on Union, I think?) but the pick-up hours were crazy–I think 4 or 5 PM on weekdays? I’m not sure who could swing that other than stay-at-home parents or people who work from home.2 years ago
Brooke: I just discovered your blog a few weeks ago and wanted to let you know that I think you actually helped inspire me to join a CSA this summer! Your blog makes me think about slowing down and enjoying food when I’m too often scarfing down another frozen pizza. I’m in St. Louis and bought a share from an organic farmer in Illinois. Basically, I see it as a chance to pay attention to what I’m eating — to force myself to try new things and cook whatever I have in the house and make it taste good instead of running to the store in search of the ingredients to make up the same old dishes over and over again. So while I do realize that I might have kale coming out my ears or crave green beans before/after they’ve come and gone, I hope that my adventures in produce will be worth it. I feel good about a different approach to cooking and about helping to fund local organic farming.2 years ago
Erin: We tried out a CSA last year and were overall very happy with it. We are lucky enough to get some fruit and flowers with most weeks pick ups.
Things to consider:
-What do they typically grow? Each CSA should be able to provide you with a specific list, but be aware that you may gets tons of one thing and none of another. Some don’t have fruit at all, some have things like eggs or nuts or wine or even meat, but these tend to be more expensive or you pay extra for these options. My 2 cents is that eggs are totally worth it.
-How much does it cost? Depending on what you can afford, this may be a major factor. I find that the one I joined cost about the same, or sometimes less, than I would spend at the farmers market or fruit stands (if I didn’t have the CSA). Keep in mind if you want to/are willing/are able to pay a little more for super fresh and local produce, in which case you are also supporting a local farmer.
-Where and when can you pick it up? We chose one that is close to us and has a convenient time for pick up so that I can walk or bike there (good exercise, decreasing carbon footprint, and enjoy spring/summer/early fall weather!) This is important because if you are finding yourself having to drive across town or totally inconveniencing yourself to pick it up, that can defeat the purpose of it, and you probably won’t be a happy camper and won’t want to do it again next year.
-What seasons do they offer? most are early summer to early fall, but some go longer, maybe even some all year. I like only doing it part of the year (June-Oct) because it gives me a bit of a break from me stuck with what they give me. But during the summer it was great to have such fresh stuff and not have to think about what to buy (with all of our non-seasonal options we are usually bombarded with). So instead of saying, “I want to make mushroom pizza today” you would say, “I have a ton of ____, ____, and ____, so I will make ____.”
Overall, I would say try it out. It is a great challenge to eat locally and seasonally. I didn’t get tired of getting tons of one thing (although I had to get creative with the ton of zuchinni, mostly with happy results) but I also lucked out with a good variety of stuff overall. I would suggest checking out a book with seasonal recipes, 2 of my favorites are: “From Asparagus to Zucchini: A Guide to Cooking With Farm-Fresh Produce” and “Simply in Season”2 years ago
Liza: I joined a CSA last year, and like someone else mentioned, the weather really affected what we got — so much pak choi! For two of us, we signed up for a one person share, thinking that would be a good balance between how often we ate at home and how often we ate out.
However, perhaps because of the drought, it didn’t really work out to being a feasible amount of veggies for two people making dinner 3 times a week. One week might be a couple ears of corn, an eggplant, a couple squash, and copious amounts of fresh herbs. A nice starting point, but we still found we were visiting the farmer’s market weekly to supplement our vegetables.
This year we both have different jobs so none of the pick up locations for that particular CSA work for us. We decided one summer of that experience was enough to help us think more mindfully about seasonal vegetables and motivate use to make use of the farmer’s market.
I don’t know how it is where you are, but around the DC area there are many farmer’s markets at different times of the week. In addition to the large Saturday market I frequent, there are at least two other smaller, after-work markets that I can stop by during the week if I decide to sleep in on the weekend.2 years ago
Karen: Haha, I admit…I did laugh at the “fun guy” joke
I can’t offer much advice, since we don’t belong to one, but I’d just suggest scouting out all of your options. We’d thought about joining one, but for the amount of food we’d get each week, it was just going to be too much for two people. There were others that offered “half” shares that might have worked better though. Just thoughts!
Like Liza said above, the DC area (hi, I’m from there too!) has a lot of farmer’s markets that are open on different days and at different times — maybe there are some others up there that you could look for?2 years ago
Kaycie: Our local farmer’s markets open on Saturday mornings, but one is also open on Wednesdays and another is open on Thursdays. They open around 9am and stay until 2pm or 3pm. Lots of business and working people use their lunch hours to shop. Maybe that might be an option for you.2 years ago
I really, really appreciate these thoughtful responses! Broken down per week, the cost is good. But the way we cook and eat — especially in the summer — is so unpredictable. We’re often out of town, and there’s so much socializing in the summer that I think I will miss the pick up time often and not always use up what they give us (and I’m loathe to waste, too). So maybe I’ll go the Sara Rose route and try to ritualize the farmer’s market trips to make them a regular part of our week.
Brooke, Your comment made my day! Slowing down to put your time into cooking and making things isn’t always the easiest choice, but it is so, so rewarding. Let us know what you think of the CSA once you’ve had it for awhile and what you make.
Oh and Karen — THANK YOU! That was my favorite joke for the longest time. Glad to know it didn’t fall on deaf ears and eye rolls alone.
2 years ago
eliz: one other thing to consider is that with farming being as difficult of a profession as it is to sustain these days, CSAs help the farmers so much by providing stable income (and providing you stable food)–and usually if the food doesn’t get picked up, there is a food donation program attached that gets it to a local food bank. so if you are sharing the risk with the farmer–of drought, of a hardy bunch of aphids, etc–you are actually supporting the local economy in sometimes a much more meaningful way than buying at the farmers’ market (not that i would speak against that!).
so i would say, if you have the ability to do a csa, even if you might waste a little or it might be a little trickier, think about the factors of what a guaranteed chunk of money can mean for the farmer/s you give it to.2 years ago
Zarah: Sounds like you’re getting lots of great advice. I love my CSA – it’s definitely challenged me in the cooking department, but I enjoy that so it’s a good thing. I eat way more – and more varied – vegetables than I ever did pre-CSA. My husband and I split a share with another couple on the first go-round, this time we’ve got one all to ourselves. I think going halfsies is a good and fairly inexpensive way to see if you like the whole concept.2 years ago
Hillary: I split a large CSA share last summer with another single girl and a couple. Of the three people, only the other single girl is doing it again this year.
why?
for me, a couple reasons. too much kale and kohlrabi, not enough tomatoes and green beans. It was a pain to deal with if we were traveling, and we were lucky that we never had a week where everyone was gone. dealing with splitting specifically, I didn’t feel like I got enough of any single thing. I want a bunch of beets, not one.
I’m committing to going to a farmers market once a week. The St. Paul (MN) Farmers Market has one location that’ll be on my way home on fridays, or I can go on saturday or sunday. Without discussing it, some of my friends made the same evaluation of their CSAs and the same commitment. Among my social networks, it seems to work best for the people who are willing to not plan their meals until the CSA share shows up, and who are also willing to eat things they don’t particularly like.2 years ago
Hilary: I have belonged to several CSAs, and they have never worked that well for me. I don’t live in a very central location, so the pick up just never quite works—it doesn’t seem as though you can ever get there in the appropriate window. This happens to me with regard to farmer’s markets also, but at least then I can spend the allotted cash at a farm stand rather than having it just dissolve into the atmosphere (though I did get some pleasure at the thought of my unclaimed CSA share going to the kitchen of a homeless shelter).2 years ago
Meghan: I loved the CSA I belonged to in Tennessee. Things that helped were sharing the box with a friend and finding a CSA that provided recipes with every box. We had a great variety of produce — finding a large enough farm is important — and the other couple was rarely out of town at the same time we were, so we always managed to eat most of our box. Can you buy a half share just to get started? Or see if they have a program where you only get a box if someone else can’t claim theirs?
Also, I think the success of CSAs depend on where you live — here in Texas, I have wonderful tomatoes until November, so a lack of yummy summer veggies isn’t a problem.
I miss living close enough to belong to a CSA — seeing the 1/2-bushel box on my kitchen counter reminded me of coming home from school to see my dear grandmother had let herself in sometime during the day and left us a surprise box of veggies from her garden.
Good luck deciding!2 years ago
Sweet Pea: I love the local farmer’s market. A bit over priced but who can resist the smell of fresh veggies & fruit plus the aromatherapists with their home made recipes, fresh lavender soaps and sweet honey. But then I hear “we are all out of basil, had you been here earlier..,” That is when I return to my local Korean fruit market. They are everywhere in NY City. They always have fresh basil year round and I can always depend on them to have what I want. One stop shopping for fresh produce. Then I can sleep well knowing I am supporting my local merchant.2 years ago
Julia: i’m SO glad to hear a post debating CSAs. i hear CSA love all the time, but they just don’t work for everyone. i find that the CSA in my neighborhood would cost me more than i normally spend at the farmers market, and I would still have to go to the farmers market anyway for meat, and would provide me with more produce than my household could eat in a week. so instead i just go to the farmers market every saturday and sometimes again during the week so i can pick and choose what i want that best fits our tastes and our plans for that week. it really is about making going to the farmers market a ritual that is fun (well, at least i think ogling all the pretty produce and figuring out recipe combinations in my head is fun) that you are willing to get up on a sat morning for.2 years ago
Rhonda: I love the idea of joining a CSA. We are in an area rich in farms, seafood, etc. and I try to support the local businesses by eating locally-produced foods. However, I suppose I am in the same boat as the farmers – they need the cash upfront so they have the money to plant, fertilize, etc. – BUT, I never seem to have a lump sum of $700 or so to ante-up in mid-February when the CSA memberships open. So, I never join and just lust after the idea instead! Luckily, I can walk to the farmer’s market every Wed and Sat and get a little taste of what might be in those coveted boxes!2 years ago
The Flying Quiche: I am going through the exact same dilemna with my boyfriend right now about whether to join the local CSA in Dumbo. I keep dreaming of all the fresh veggies I would be getting and have to come up with entire week’s worth of food because I would have to base it on our weekly bushel. This particular CSA’s website has a page to see what their past shares included, and it seems to be a good variety- heirloom tomatoes, basil, bok choy, garlic, even a potted rosemary plant one week! But the sensible boyfriend points out that we would have to pay for the share upfront (some $300 to $500) and as we’re two poor twenty somethings with no savings, this would mean a bit of doing. The boyfriend is also afraid of eating beet soup with raddish salads for weeks at a time but I don’t think this would be a problem with the variety this CSA offers. In the end, I think I’m going to have call my mother for some advice because I’m getting nowhere arguing this in my head (or with the boyfriend!!)
Good luck with your decision! Hopefully we can both enjoy fresh local veggies in one way or another this summer!
Claire2 years ago
EB: I just re-signed up… see…. http://spicedish.typepad.com/spice_dish/2009/05/csa-comin-my-way.html
I had belonged to one before and really loved it. Sometimes yes… there is too much rhubarb… but I really loved the feeling of being ‘in season’ and supporting farmers. I say try it. It’s not a long term contract kind for thing (for most). Give it a whirl! Can’t hurt.2 years ago
Christine S.: Go to localharvest.org to check out a CSA closest to you and what they offer during the season (it will also give you info. on how they produce the food). No, I haven’t joined one yet because we have lovely farmer’s markets here; however, a friend of mine did a year ago. She said that she too became tired of “chinese radishes” and didn’t know what to do with them anymore. She isn’t doing it this year, though, because of the increases in cost and her husband’s loss of work.
I’ve toyed with a full share if I join one, though – I have two growing kids (a teen female and a pre-teen boy). I think the 1/2 share won’t be enough to get through the week. If I do it, I’ll share “overstock” with my parents. At any rate, as long as it is local and fresh – whether CSA or farmer’s market, we can’t lose with our summer cooking opportunities!2 years ago
Bella: This is our 3rd year as CSA members. The first farm we used, was very efficient, very large and had just the most common vegetables, nothing special. The food was abundant, but the variety was lacking, although the season was good. A big plus was the pasture fed beef, organic chickens, eggs, goatcheese from their own goats. Also, we are 2 adults with an healthy appetite and the half share, just wouldn’t be enough for the two of us, but it was to many other couples at this CSA. This CSA just was too big and commercial for us.
Nevertheless, we joined another CSA two years ago and are more than happy. It is more personal, everyone has to help out on the farm, there is more community. We all meet in late winter and can add seed and plant and animal suggestions. There are also lots of berries and fruits and honeys. Besides a small portion which the farm family sells to local restaurants and during the pickup, all food is divided equally between all members. It is a small CSA with just 50 shares, but it is a great one.
Yes, the whole thing is weather dependent. There are good seasons with more than plenty of food, and there are others which much less food.2 years ago
Jackie: I, too, just signed up for my first CSA and I’m super excited. I’m fortunate in that the drop off is right on my block – very convenient. My bf and I also are away many weekends in the summer, but I’ll just arrange for a friend or neighbor to pick up my box of veggies and enjoy whatever they want until we return and snatch it all back!
I am so grateful for the opportunity to support local farms and eat fresh, seasonal produce right from it’s source.
I will surely supplement with farmers’ market goods when I want something specific, but I can’t wait to flex some creative muscles to use up what comes in my box!2 years ago
Tea: I belonged to a CSA in California. I first signed up for every other week, then increased to every week as I enjoyed it so much.
Going to pick up the box was like getting a Christmas present–so much fun! Whenever I ran into another member picking theirs up we grinned like kids. “It’s this the greatest?” they would say and I had to agree. There was a newsletter with recipe suggestions for the seasonal produce, and I ended up cooking things I never would have otherwise. It worked out to be the same as if I had bought it at the market, or a little less, but the feeling of being involved in the farm and supporting them was priceless. They had farm visits and strawberry and tomato days in season. It was great. Also, if you were going out of town, you could put your share on hold. I was sad when I moved away.
I go to the market now instead, which I do love (although I hear you on the Sat morning–ouch). But if I had a Sat morning CSA pick up in a park two blocks from my house I would jump at the opportunity. Even if you later decide that it’s not for you, it would likely be a great experiment in community and adventurous seasonal cooking. Why not give it a try? It will definitely push you to cook and view food in a different way–and signing up will make it happen for sure, whereas a market effort will always have to fight against the lure of a warm bed and a Sat morning in jammies.
Here’s a post I wrote about my experience, if you want to see:
http://teaandcookies.blogspot.com/2006/06/control-freak-and-csa.html2 years ago
Kari: My family loves our CSA program. It has caused me to become a more creative cook and we are better eaters because of it. Getting “the box” is one of the highlights of my kids’ week; they can’t wait to get it home and open it up. Whatever we don’t get in the box, we can usually supplement from the farmers’ market if we really want it. While there are a few exceptions, we buy very little produce from the supermarket during the growing season.
Yes, there are days when I think I cannot possibly eat one more leafy green. Those days are more than outweighed by the weeks when our CSA box is plum full of all the best parts of summer!2 years ago
pattyskypants: Most folks I know who subscribe to CSAs do it because they want to support local growers, not necessarily because the variety of produce is abundant or reliable. I mean, how much dill does one family actually need? We have CSAs that combine veggies and flowers. May I say there is nothing so cheerful as a tin full of purple and red gladiolas!! Another comment is that many CSAs will deliver your box of goodies if you pay extra. At least that’s how it is here in the Heartland. In addition, it never hurts to have a relationship with a grower. What if you are going to have a huge party in August and need 250 anaheim peppers to make your special appetizers? Contract with a CSA and you are strengthening your local economy and getting what you need.2 years ago
regina: Ha! I’ll have to remember that joke.
I used to belong to a CSA program, until the farm was taken over by grasshoppers.
When they get up and running, I’d probably join again. The veggies were always amazing. Unfortunately we got a little sick of radishes and fava beans. bleh!2 years ago
miss fae: which CSA are you thinking of joining? i had a hell of a time trying to get on the Park Slope CSA (2 paper letters, 10 phone calls, several emails….and they never got back to me)2 years ago
Sarah: I might be too late and you’ve already made up your mind…but I can’t praise my CSA enough. It has done more to change my cooking (and our diet) for the better than even a kitchen full of shiny new wedding presents ever did. It has proved to lower our grocery bill overall and we’re forced to eat veggies. Searching out new recipes to use up things like totsoi is a blast and even if I get the same thing for six weeks in a row I like that I can rest assured I’m supporting a farmer and helping them by eating exactly what they have ready those weeks. I have nothing bad to say about our CSA.2 years ago
Kristi: I joined a CSA about two months ago, and I really enjoy it. I was introduced to new vegetables and new cooking challenges. I get a box every other week, since I also grow a good amount of vegetables at home. It’s been really fun. I also get eggs from heritage hens and they are amazing!2 years ago
Kell from Sac: Stumbled here via a CSA google alert. I love my CSA (northern California). The quality is much better than supermarket produce (which is saying something, because we’re quite spoiled in terms of produce, even if our economy stinks ; ). One of the biggest advantages is that the CSA I’m with (Full Belly Farm) specializes in delivering ripe produce, heirloom varieties and organics, so no frankentomatoes that could do duty as tennis balls. Personally, I’m saving some money both directly (maybe 10% compared to the store), and because I’ve wound up doing more cooking at home. (Once you get used to eating home cooking again, mediocre restaurant food just doesn’t cut it anymore.) I have a half share, since I’m usually cooking just for myself, and also grow some hydroponic veggies.
My advice — while figuring out what to cook with the fresh stuff that MUST be used NOW, or that is just too perfect to not eat right away, is part of the fun –I’d also say get to know and love your freezer. Part of my regular CSA ritual is to figure out what to eat now and, and what gets put up. Almost everything is freezable, one way or another. It’s great to not waste anything, and to have all sorts of goodies available for creative cooking all year. My discoveries, so far:
– Eggplant does better frozen if you roast it first. I usually assemble a veggie lasagne with the still-frozen slices, and it comes out great. You can also microwave the slices, and put them on a sandwich. With mozzarella. And oregano. Is it lunch yet?
– Mushrooms do better frozen if thinly sliced and sauted first. If frozen raw, they get rubbery, but cooked, they’re great (and convenient for just throwing into rice or whatever).
– Kale loves to be frozen. I usually just chop it up and throw it in a bag, and don’t even bother blanching it. Having pre-chopped kale makes it very convenient for throwing into other dishes on a whim, of for those sudden Colcannon cravings (Yeah, I’m strange, but I eat well.)
– Try freezing summer fruits (peaches, plums…) whole. When you’re ready to use them, soak them in tepid water briefly, and then rub off the skins. The texture changes a bit, but they’re still great for cooking or over ice cream.
– I also recommend making refrigerator “jam” (I use gelatin instead of pectin, so I can keep the sugar low). It’s a great way to use fruit that arrives ripe, is much cheaper than storebought jam, and is usually nummy.
CSAs rule! Have fun!2 years ago