What is a CSA & Why You Should Consider Joining One
6 Benefits of Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA)
If you have ever been to a local farmer’s market, then congratulations, you too have supported community agriculture. Skipping the mainstream grocery store and buying directly from a local farm, getting the freshest of produce available while also supporting a local business. A CSA takes that support just a little further.
CSAs all run a little differently. The typical farmer’s market season throughout most of the US runs from April-October, unless you live in California and have that fresh produce availability all year long (lucky!), or maybe Florida where the typical season runs the opposite, from October-April. There is usually an upfront cost that you pay in the fall or winter, to secure your spot for the next season. This funds the farm to begin buying seeds, paying employees, buying and fixing equipment, and investing in the year ahead.
Some CSAs run weekly, while others run bi-weekly, during the peak growing season. Some are delivered directly to your door, while others are picked up directly from the farm or farmer’s market. A typical box is usually made up to feed a family of 4, or 2 veg-heavy individuals. There are also farms that pair with other vendors, filling your box with a variety of options, such as proteins, breads, and other provisions. No matter the option you choose there will always be one thing in common, amazingly fresh, beautiful produce!
Joining a CSA has been one of the greatest investments into my family’s health we have ever made and will always stand as my #1 recommendation for anyone looking to do the same. Still need more convincing?
7 Reasons You Should Join a CSA:
Connection – Have you ever connected with a tomato from the grocery store? Of course, you can try. We all know that tomato went on a long journey in a truck to get to the grocery store and came from a farm somewhere, but the connection pretty much ends there. With a CSA you can know it all. Who planted that tomato, what type of seed it came from, when the tomato was picked, where that tomato was grown. You get to know your farmers, their farming practices, and why they do what they do. So many us have a complete disconnection from our food. Rebuilding that connection not only will help build a practice of mindful eating, but also produces physiological effects such as boosting mental health and gut health!
Support a Local Farm and/or Family – These are not big corporate farms. They are generally small scale, even just a few acres, a lot of times ran by families that live directly on the farm. They do it because they care. They care about your health and want to produce and share with you pesticide and chemical-free fruits and veggies. A lot of farms even hold small events for their CSA holders, allowing you to come to the farm and pick in-season items like cherry tomatoes, flowers, and berries, while mingling with other CSA holders and building that relationship with the farmers who grow your food.
Seasonal Eating – This is such an important part of health! Eating foods at their freshest when they taste their best and are nutrient packed! Ever eat a tomato from the grocery store in December and taste…nothing? Reach for a locally grown tomato in the middle of summer at its peak and be blown away! Beyond the facts of improved flavor, you also will be taking in the highest amount of nutrients available. Did you know that most produce loses 30% of its nutrients within 3 days of being picked? That should put the whole “farm-to-table” aspect into perspective for you. Our bodies are meant to eat the foods grown around us, at the time in which they are available for eating. The true way our ancestors ate.
Rotation Diet – This may be a new concept for you, but eating a rotating diet is just as important as eating seasonally! Our bodies are not meant to consume the same foods day-after-day. In fact, doing so can cause our bodies to react and build intolerances to specific foods. What is the best way to eat a rotation? A CSA of course! Week after week your box will contain variety. A variety of colors, flavors and textures, which means you will take in a vast variety of minerals and vitamins from all those beautiful phytonutrients. Eat that rainbow!
Awaken Your Inner Chef – Humans love comfort! We naturally reach for familiar things that are “comfortable”, which generally plays out into the way we grocery shop and cook as well. With a CSA you will get variety and more than likely end up with some foods you probably would have skipped right over at the store. Opening your box and finding something like a delicata squash will bring excitement. Next thing you know you are searching Pinterest for recipes, exploring new skills in the kitchen, and giving your taste buds a new adventure!
Save Money – The upfront cost can be difficult for some, although many farms do offer payment plans. However, even with payment plans, an investment into our “food and health” future can be hard to wrap your head around when it’s a new concept. Let me help ease your brain. The average savings with a CSA runs anywhere from 30-50%!! That is HUGE! On a national average CSAs bring down annual grocery spending by 13-22%, which can be the difference for many of being able to afford fresh organic foods. Not to mention how much you will save on going out to eat, when you have a kitchen stocked and ready for pumping out fresh, nutrient-dense dishes.
Pictured here are the contents of 2 beautiful boxes we received from our CSA with Three Rivers Community Farm, an amazing family ran farm out of Elsah, Illinois. Check them out if you are in St. Louis or the surrounding area, whether you are wanting to join a CSA or just support a farm who cares about your health!
If you are interested in finding a CSA in your local area, begin with a Google search or asking around on social media. Beware that there currently are a lot of produce delivery companies popping up that are more the equivalent of an online grocery store, sourcing from large corporate farms. Look for local farms close to where you live. Go straight to the source, a local farmer’s market, and you are sure to find a farm running a seasonal CSA. Be sure to ask the important questions of farming practices and procedures to ensure you are investing your money into the proper place to support your health.
Are you currently a CSA member? Share your experience and drop the name of your farm in the comments!
Support your community, support your health, and support others!