What the heck does CSA stand for??

CSA. This acronym was recently added to my vocabulary...and I didn't even know what it stood for. All I know is that it had to do with farming co-ops and it allowed me to get fresh produce straight from the farms. (I feel so green and hippie-ish saying that!) Anyway...according to Wikipedia (ya know...the most widely respected professional reference site...or not) defines a CSA as "Community-supported agriculture, a form of an alternative food network, (in Canada Community Shared Agriculture) (CSA) is asocio-economic model of agriculture and food distribution. A CSA consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farming operation where the growers and consumers share the risks and benefits of food production. CSAs usually consist of a system of weekly delivery or pick-up of vegetables and fruit, in a vegetable box scheme, and sometimes includes dairy products and meat."

That's basically what I thought...right? :-) I was turned onto this concept by my friend, Amy Adams. She recently posted on her Facebook page asking for input from other people about farming co-ops. At first, I didn't get it. I remember asking the hubs, "Is that like when you share a cow with another family?" Oh how naive I am about what's available in the world! He patiently explained to me what Amy was talking about. At that point, I was like "Oh alright." and I moved on with life. 

A few days later, I actually looked into it. I was pleasantly surprised! It looked awesome! The one Amy went with is The Produce Box. The Produce Box's main premise is "We deliver locally grown, farm-fresh produce to your door every week during our North Carolina growing season. We are committed to working with North Carolina farmers only (the main reason we started the program) , and don't ship in products from other states or countries. Join us and become part of our "community of families" who enjoy delicious fruits and vegetables, eat healthier each week and support our farm neighbors." This particular co-op will deliver, which makes it perfect for Amy's family...and for mine. Vance and I decided to do it. I signed up for it on Friday and am awaiting my id and password information. With The Produce Box, you pay $22/week for a small box and $40/week for a large box. For the hubs and I, a small box will be plenty! You also pay a once a year $15 membership fee which is renewed in January. One of the best parts about this particular co-op is that you don't have to order every week AND you only pay for the weeks you do order. :-) That was a decision maker for me. The hubs and I try to eat as many veggies and fruits as possible each week, (I'm better about the fruits and he's better about the veggies) but we're unsure about if we'll be able to eat all of the provided veggies in a week's box. If we find that one box will last us more than one week, we will probably order every other week or so. That's to be determined. :-)

Amy's First Produce Box

Credit

Here's how The Produce Box works:

1. Order between Friday evening and Sunday night. (An email is sent that tells you what is in the default box, but you can order alternate boxes and add special items like bread, honey, peanuts, or extra fruit/veggies when available.)

2. Receive delivery Wednesday or Thursday.

3. Enjoy the produce!

4. Reuse/recycle cartons by placing them outside the night before or day of your next delivery. 

 

I cannot wait to get our first box and try it out!! Have any of you tried a farming co-op? What did you like about it or dislike about it? I'd love to hear any feedback you might have to offer!

For more information on The Produce Box, please visit their website at http://www.theproducebox.com/.