Even though CSA delivery isn't quite as thrilling in the winter as it is in the spring and summer, I was SO happy to see these clementine tangerines in the box this morning. They were absolutely delicious the last time we got them, and they're seedless! We also got a butterscotch chocolate chip cookie treat, which didn't make it into this photo.We've been getting CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) delivery of local, organic produce for about eight months now and both my husband and I love it. We're definitely eating healthier, and we're more creative with our cooking. My husband has been chopping up spices and adding them to whatever he eats!
This week we got, roughly clockwise from the back: bloomsdale spinach (in bag), chiogga beets with tops, mustard spinach/tatsoi, romanesco cauliflower, flat-leaved kale, carrots, romaine lettuce, young red onions, turnips, broccoli, clementines, and cilantro.
I'm really happy about that bagged spinach because the last time we got it I sauteed it with a bit of onion and it was so delicious my husband said he could eat it every day. I'm also curious about that sci fi looking cauliflower, which is almost too cool-looking to cook.
If you're interested in getting CSA delivery, click here to learn more about it and to find a service in your area. One interesting thing I've found is that even though the delivery isn't cheap, our monthly grocery spending hasn't gone up. I think it's because we're eating differently and with less meat and so overall it's not expensive.
Farmer's Markets are another great way to support local farmers and eat healthy produce. Do you shop at Farmer's Markets or get CSA delivery? Tell us about it in the comments section. And as always, I love to get your tips and preparation advice for anything you see in this photo.
8 comments:
i go to the farmers market because my boyfriend works late a lot and i fear that a csa share would be too much for us. also because in my opinion csa's are kind of expensive here in nyc. some suggestions on preparations: creamed spinach with poached eggs. i like my kale sauteed in lots of olive oil and salt, don't be shy with it. and don't throw away your beet tops - sautee them and add to pasta or on top of pizza.
I buy all of our produce from our local farmers market. I am obsessed with the farmers market. I also buy fresh bread, honey, jams etc from them.
I love when we get those "fractal-flowers" in our CSA. I do not really care for cauliflower, but I absolutely love that wierd looking cauliflower! (By the by, my mathematician/computer scientist husband coined that fractal-flower name for it after he was modeling fractals on his computer... it stuck)
Unfortunately, unless you live in a warmer climate or a larger metropolitan area...farmer's markets and CSAs don't operate in the winter. I live in Tennessee and after the second week of November, there is NOTHING until April. It's really disappointing.
We do have some winter CSA's here in chilly Massachusetts, but they are pricey, and sometimes the icy roads make it tough to travel to the farms. Another program we have is something called Boston Organics, where you place an order of what you don't want in your share, and they deliver the rest. The boxes come weekly or biweekly and have a range of size/price. The problem I had when I did this was the produce was not necessarily local - some was from South America and some from California. They were working on making it more local, but in the winter, it really is tough for us Easterners. I rely on Whole Foods and home-canned goods at this time of year and dream of Spring!
I live in Montréal, Québec and opted out of the winter CSA delivery comprised mostly of carrots, turnips, cabbage, different varieties of squash, beets and potatoes. I appreciate most of these foods, but we are focusing on eating as many greens as possible, and trying to keep the carbs, even these goodies, as a smaller portion of our meals. I can't wait for spring too, and am about to begin a serious sprout and micro-green production in my kitchen. Will be growing the following sprouts in jars: Alfalfa, red clover, fenugreek, kale and chives. Greens on beds: Sunflowers, peas, chia, purslane, amaranth, and mixed salad greens. I am planning on making our smoothies with the greens and adding the sprouts to our daily salads. This will reduce the cost of our daily dose of fresh greens and the impact on the environment of purchasing salad greens grown in California. I opted out of purchasing organic Royal Gala apples this week as they had been flown around the world from New Zealand. They looked delicious, just like all the wonderful veggies in your picture!
Wow- I have been so grateful lately for our beautiful clear weather and now I'll have to remember to also be grateful for the variety of produce even in the winter- especially all those greens! I'll make an extra effort to make sure we don't waste any of it!
Julia- We get this delivery once every two weeks, every week would be too much for us to use up, and also too expensive. I do the same thing with kale (love it!) and beet greens are maybe my favorite sauteed greens of all.
Daniela- wow, you really are a devotee. I would say the only thing I've regularly had to buy outside the CSA are bananas every so often. We both love them and also use them in smoothies. I also buy onions and garlic when we don't get enough, because we always need them for cooking.
Castal- I know, I really think I need a special recipe for that cauliflower. I can't bear to boil and smash it, and we don't care for raw cauliflower. I'm thinking maybe lightly steamed and drizzled with olive oil.
Anonymous- Thanks for your comment and for making me appreciate our delivery! There's something to be said for REALLY appreciating all the good things of spring, in your case fresh produce among them.
Jill- I am so glad you're back! I've missed you! Can't wait to go check out your blog. I'll bet you're good at canning tomatoes and all that jazz. Plus, I'm unusual this way, but I could practically live on potatoes. There are about a billion ways to eat them. I made a broccoli frittata the other night and my husband LOVED it- ate the leftovers for breakfast.
Marie-Josee- That is a very ambitious plan, and sounds delicious! Good for you- that will be healthy, cheap, and delicious (not to mention environmentally friendly). Good luck!!
Thanks for your comments everyone!
Clementines were 8.88 for a small box in my market today! SHOCKER!
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