Summer CSA...

CSA or community supported agriculture is something that I personally am learning a lot about this year. We have all shopped at farmers markets and some of us might have even "picked our own" produce at some time in our lives, but when we are shopping at the supermarket what we forget about is the amazing produce that our farmers grow right her in Boston’s backyard.

Community Supported Agriculture or CSA is kind of like a produce subscription to a farm of your choice. Basically how it works is you pay an upfront cost and every week through your chosen season, you receive a supply of veggies, fruits, fresh herbs, and sometimes even eggs and meats. The perks of a CSA are that you know the foods are fresh, you can go visit the farmers and see where your food is coming from and of course, you are supporting our local farmer friends!

Writing the check was a little bit painful, only because it was an upfront cost for the whole season, but when you do the math it came out to be around $30 dollars per week, which I know I spend well over at just the regular supermarket for produce. I thought about the amount of fresh things that we eat, especially throughout the summer with home cooking, barbecues with friends, beach visits, and more. My CSA begins in June and goes all the way until mid September (20 weeks). I cant wait to see the variety of things I am going to get!

Believe it or not, right here in Massachusetts we grow an enormous variety of produce. We grow tomatoes, onions, garlic, shallots, brussel sprouts, all types of squash, pumpkins, eggplant, parsnips, potatoes, all types of lettuce, a variety of herbs, beets, carrots, apples, peaches, all berries, and the list goes on and on….

Check out www.farmfresh.org to research farms. Each farm will have pick up locations throughout the greater Boston area. I chose Red Fire Farm, located in Granby, MA. I liked their philosophy and convenient pick up location in Brighton!  www.redfirefarm.com/CSA/index.

After your research if you plan to sign up for one, do it soon! Shares go fast...

I stole this photos from my new friends, Laura and Theresa, they have a blog all about eating local, its awesome. Doesn't this picture just make you want to eat healthy and sign up for a CSA now?! Check out their blog - http://lovelylocavoreladies.wordpress.com/. They are also great references for more information or questions regarding signing up for a CSA.