Thinking of joining a CSA in your neighborhood? Here’s what you need to know to start your farm box delivery. Plus, see what’s inside my first CSA box.
What is a CSA
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It’s an opportunity to connect with local farmers to receive fresh produce straight from the farm.
How does it work?
You sign up and pay in advance for a share of farm produced products. Before the season starts, you select what kind of foods you want—fruit, vegetables, beans, flour, coffee, eggs, dairy and meat are often options. Some CSA’s may even allow you to choose your delivery day and how often you get a box (weekly or biweekly).
Then once the CSA season begins, you get farm fresh foods delivered straight to your door or a communal pick up location. The farmer determines what to grow and distribute to CSA members. Every delivery day will be a surprise of what you’ll have to enjoy fresh from the farm.
Reasons to join
There are many good reasons to join a CSA in your neighborhood.
Improve your health
Simply having fresh produce available in your kitchen, makes you more likely to consume it. Unpack your box and store each item appropriately—making sure it’s not going to be lost in the back of the refrigerator.
Plus, with locally grown produce, the food is not traveling across the country or sitting on a store shelf for a few days. Fruits & vegetables in your CSA box are harvested and transported straight to you. Limiting exposure to light, heat and oxygen, which make it more nutritious.
Support a farm
By joining a CSA you’re able to support local farms. Your money goes to supporting the farm at the beginning of the season. Farmers get to decide the best crops to grow and harvest in your area.
Convenience
Skip a trip to the supermarket or having to submit an online grocery order. You pay once at the beginning for an entire season of produce. The boxes are filled on the farm and delivered—either straight to your door or will have a local pickup location (make sure you can easily transport the box back to your home).
Test your creativity in the kitchen
Each box delivered comes with some mystery of what exactly is inside. Since there is no set order form, this isn’t how you’d shop to make a specific recipe. Instead it forces you try new produce and get creative with the foods in your box each week.
Interested..now how do I join a CSA subscription?
A quick Google search should bring you to a list of CSA available in your area. Every group will have their own application procedure. Follow the online information to sign up. There is usually a registration period before the season begins. Sign up as soon as you can or join the waiting list so you don’t miss the upcoming season.
Another option is to check out the Farmers Market. Some of the farm stands there might also have their own farm vegetable delivery option.
What’s inside my CSA Box
Bok Choi – several heads
White Salad Turnips & Greens – 1 bunch (used in this Turnip Salad)
Red Boston Lettuce – 1 bag
Green Boston Lettuce – 1 bag
Baby Arugula – 1 bag (made into this Sweet Arugula Salad )
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How to store these foods
Place each lettuce bag in the refrigerator crisper drawer. Heads of bok choi can be bagged (I like this reusable kind) and placed in the same refrigerator drawer.
Separate the turnips from the leafy greens. Refrigerate in another bag, wrapping the leaves in paper towels.
Wash & dry salad greens
Make it easy to add more greens to your plate with clean and dry and ready-to eat lettuce. Here’s how:
Fill a large salad spinner with the leafy greens you are using and cool water. (Can also add a couple tablespoons of vinegar or vegetable wash.) Let soak a few minutes and agitate with your hands regularly. Lift up the strainer portion and drain the water. Repeat if necessary. Return the strainer portion to the bowl. Add lid and spin to dry. Use the clean lettuce in all your favorite salads.
Interested in seeing the full CSA season? Check out all of the CSA boxes here and see what recipes were made from the produce inside.
