CSA's

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a flyer in an elevator at work that featured a few pictures of vegetables, a website and the words "Community Support Agriculture." I was instantly intrigued and jotted down the website. I am now completely enthralled by this idea.

To begin let me explain a little bit more of what community supported agriculture (CSA) is. CSA is basically a bringing together of the farmer and the consumer. A consumer (for example, you) is basically given an opportunity to invest in the farm. You purchase a share of the crops up front (around March-April) and then pick up a lovely share of the harvest each week for several weeks once crops are ready.

For example, Aaron and I recently purchased a share from Tagge's Famous Fruit. After I had researched many CSA farms in Utah, specifically ones that have pick-up points in the Salt Lake Valley we decided on Tagge's. I contacted Thayne who was very helpful and excited to inform me that they were still accepting CSA customers for a couple more weeks. I then went online and paid our $275 up front. Now I am anxiously awaiting our first pick-up on July 8th and the subsequent 14 weeks when I will go to the pick-up spot conveniently located at 10600 So and 1300 East in Sandy and pick up my fresh produce at no additional cost! YUM!

I think it is such a fun idea with so many benefits for both the farmer and the consumer. Many of the farms I looked into had a desire and excitement to create relationships with their CSA customers. Some even offer canning classes and other suggestions on how to use or store extra produce. One CSA I saw had a pumpkin patch and as part of your share you can bring your family down to the farm and pick your pumpkins in October. I was also assured by some of the people I talked with that they treat their CSA's as their best customers! They want to you to invest again next year. :)

I love that this is a way to support local farmers! It helps the farmers especially during the pre-harvest period when they are pouring in a lot of money into the farm to prepare the crops for harvest, but not receiving any income. It also helps them a little bit in planning how much to plant, etc. as they have a guaranteed market.

I could just go on and on, but if you are interested a really great website I found for Utah CSAs is csautah.org. If you live elsewhere I'm sure you can google it. If you'd like my notes for a variety of farms I looked into feel free to shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment and I'd be happy to send them to you! Also, here is a link to a post about CSA's on the Hopkins CLF blog. Enjoy!

PS - We have been quite busy the last few weeks and have lots to blog about... paintballing, Harpers Ferry, Preston & Emily's wedding, family visits, Aaron's graduation (this Friday!), etc. So stay posted, one day I'll get to it all! And yes, it will be me. Aaron still refuses to actually contribute to the blog. :(