The return of CSA?

In 2007, while I was on mat leave with a baby who was just starting to eat, we tried the community-supported agriculture formula, in which we paid over $400 to have fresh, local, organic vegetables delivered to us during the summer and into the fall. I was really enthusiastic about the idea, and well, it turned out to be a disaster. I don’t think I ended up making a single puree for LP from the offer, which was terrible for many reasons, but mostly because the (still nice and well-intentioned) farmers didn’t know what they were doing, at all. On top of the upfront price, we still needed to buy nearly all our produce during the 18 weeks (when it was supposed to be 23, thus hiking the price of the weekly basket) we had vegetables, not to mention that since I was counting on them, I didn’t grow anything that year, so we didn’t even have our own delicious heirloom tomatoes and such (only4 huge green tomatoes at the end of September).

I was bitterly disappointed, M was mostly furious, and thus since then we’ve been relying on the produce market we have nearby, which does not do organic, but at least has a fresher and more local-oriented offer than the supermarket (it’s only open from April to October).

But I was sad, because I still believed in the concept, and thought that when well done, it was probably fantastic! I know it’s not always possible to do things this way, but it’s just a perfectly sensible and integrated circle: you encourage a local producer, the soil is not depleted, the carbon footprint is reasonable, the produce is free from pesticides and super fresh, and you somewhat follow what is intended in nature by mostly eating what is in season. A win-win for everyone. Recently reading Michael Pollan only increased our wanting to turn towards food that is "codebar free."

So through my annoying tireless evangelization, I have managed to convince some people, including a few co-workers who tagged along last year when we purchased pork meat from a local farm. The students may have now surpassed the teacher, because one of them recently looked at CSA, and found this great local farm that suddenly makes it very tempting again. They are very different than the one from three years ago, and seem to have it completely together. Their offer is year-round, they have some fruit too (partially through partnerships with other local farms), all kinds of heirloom varieties, lots of unusual fresh herbs, and even a greenhouse that makes it possible for them to grow certain vegetables year-round. In the winter, they import some fruit and add them to their baskets, based upon the principle that here it is impossible to only eat local, and that during the dark months, no one can or should survive on root vegetables alone. And to top it off, they also add a little something extra in each basket: chutney, jam, jar of soup, etc. Through them, you can even order (for extra $) other organic foods such as bread, eggs, poultry, etc., which they will deliver as the same time as your produce basket (convenient!)

It’s $1,350 annually, even for the smaller basket. Which is steep. Especially since I already think our grocery bills are insane, as we put a lot of effort into eating healthfully, more naturally, and if possible organically. But when you split it over 52 weeks, it’s $25, which they claim is less expensive than if you buy the same conventional produce at the supermarket. So I told myself the same thing I do when I grab the $6 free-range organic eggs carton, while gasping at the fact that it cost nearly three times as much as the regular eggs (laid by hens which probably receive the worst treatment of ALL animals in the industrial food chain by the way, even while these standards are admittedly incredibly low). Pollan says the only power we have as consumers is to "vote with our forks". That’s the only way it will become increasingly available, and thus possibly less expensive. So I feel I should be consequent and let my actions match my big mouth.