Do You Know the Way to CSA?

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is one of the neatest ways that you can support local farmers and get great produce to boot! By subscribing to a weekly (or in some cases, bi-weekly) box of produce, you guarantee the farmer a customer. In exchange, you get to try fruit, vegetable, and herb varieties that you might not otherwise. For example, in this week’s box from Del Rio Botanicals was included:
Chard
Chard Stalks
Fresh Tarragon
Spring Bloomsdale Spinach
Whole Bunch Parsley
Turnips
Salad Greens
Oranges
Alfalfa Mint Tea
The American River College culinary program counts on these produce boxes every week to teach budding chefs about more than the mainstream ingredients.
And Del Rio is but one of a few farms in this area that offer CSAs. A quick search of Local Harvest turned up eight different farms offering CSAs, including Riverdog, Full Belly, Eatwell, and Student Harvests from UCDavis. You might find some that offer other items too, like the fresh-cut flower option from Soil Born Farm. Some farms require payment in advance by season, and some by the month. Find the one that fits your style and tastes.
When I lived in San Francisco, I subscribed to the Eatwell basket for years and learned a new love for dark, leafy greens, which were abundant in the wintertime. In the summer, they would sometimes trade with other farms to offer a wider selection of fruits and herbs or even nuts.
Suzanne Ashworth of Del Rio has met lots of kids whose parents subscribe to her CSA. “They know about different varieties of produce and they’re only three or four!” she reports. “The bounty of each week’s box is a real treat for them.” And who doesn’t love a surprise box of tasty goodies to explore? Order yours today!