Support local farmers and get weekly deliveries via CSA

Sunday, January 24, 2021

There are a few great ways to support your local farmers and get the freshest, most nutritious produce.  Try farmers markets, join a CSA or at least buy local at your supermarket.  Of the three, farmers market and CSA give the most back to your local farmer.  

Not only does buying local make sense for your pocketbook and local economy, but also your tastebuds.  You get many different types of produce you won't find in the store with varieties that taste fabulous, but don't transport well.  Local farmers are crafts people and love trying new varieties so you will find unusual types of produce that most grocery stores don't carry.  Since they come right out of the field, they are also super fresh.

What is a CSA?  

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.  It is where you invest in a local farmer typically in January when they have to purchase their seeds and supplies for the upcoming gardening season.  You then get a weekly share of the farmers harvest typically from May through October.  There are even some winter CSA's now!  CSA's can include more than just produce.  Some farmers have eggs, cheese, flowers, meats, breads, honey, or other food.

Before I started our own edible garden, we joined a CSA.  It was great.  We got lots of super fresh produce, our weekly grocery bill was significantly reduced as our meals were planned around the vegetables, and it was an adventure getting to try new recipes with veggies we had never ate before.   
Eat well, be healthy

A CSA shows you what grows well in your area, too.  You can find out the varieties you like and when they come into season.  You can even save the seeds from the varieties that you want to grow in your future garden if you partner with an organic CSA that grows open pollinated and heirloom vegetables and fruits.
What do the terms GMO, natural, heirloom, organic, hybrid really mean?

To advertise as “organic” you have to be certified.  Many farmers cannot afford to do this.  Some farmers participate in the "Certified Naturally Grown" program.  This is less expensive than USDA organic, but also relies on inspections by other CNG farmers, non-CNG farmers, extension agents, master gardeners and customers instead of USDA certified agents.  If you are interested in produce grown without pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals, ask if the farmer uses organic practices.  Go visit them to see the garden for yourself before you commit.  You can also check out reviews on line.

Some CSA's also will give a discount if you come help on the farm. 

Where to find a CSA?  Again, a great resource is the web site at www.localharvest,org   You can also go to your local farmers market.  Many farmers supplement their income by selling the extra produce they have at the farmers market. 

Many sell out by January so don’t delay if you want to join!

Farmers Market Tips

When you visit a farmers market, you should look for those farmers who are actually growing the produce they are selling.  Some vendors buy in bulk and bring in produce from outside the area.  A few ways to tell if it is truly local is how it is packaged.  Is the produce in crates or boxes you would see at a grocery store delivery?  Are there tags?  Is the produce imperfect like you would expect from a small garden?  Ask the vendor where the farm is at and if everything they are selling was raised there.  

Just like a CSA, there are different growing practices.  Find out if they grow following organic practices.  Ask what kind of fertilizer they use.  If it is the typical chemical based NPK type, then they are not following organic practices.

Buying directly from small farmers in your area let's all the money go directly to them.  With no middle people like the distributor and stores getting their cut, small farmers can make a living.  Plus the produce is picked and sold within a day, making it the freshest you can buy.  The fresher the produce, the more nutritious it is.  As soon as it is picked, it starts to die.  If it is days or even a couple of weeks from the time it is picked until you buy it in the store, it has lost a lot of its life and nutritional value.

You can find farmers markets on www.localharvest,org and there are also smart phone apps you can use to find all the ones in your area.  A google search is also a good source.  Many have facebook pages that you can follow how things are growing on the farm.

Buying locally is good for your pocketbook, your tastebuds, and local economy.