Yes, it is winter. Yes, it is chilly. Yes, everything looks dead. But guess what? It isn’t. Farms are pumping out delicious foods all year long. You just need to know how to access it. Farmers Markets still function in most areas year round. Your options may be limited, but you’ll still find some wonderfully fresh items that haven’t traveled far. As we all know, food that stays local, tastes better!
Another option is to look into a local farm share. CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) are located throughout the country, even in cold weather climates. They are programs that allow you to purchase local and seasonal items. The idea is to make farm fresh foods accessible to city folk, and assist in sustaining the farmers through the tougher winter months. Each one has a slight different process, but usually you subscribe to the weekly harvest, a box of delectable delights is brought to a local drop spot, you pick it up and enjoy!
Farm shares include everything from produce, to eggs, to coffee, to meats and cheeses, to honey, to flowers. The list is endless. Multiple farms are utilized each week to offer variety and exposure.
We split our weekly harvest with our neighbors as there is too much for us to eat all in one week. By splitting the box, you’ll have plenty of product at a totally reasonable cost. Ours works out to roughly $14/week. When I think of how much money I spend at the grocery store on produce, this is a real bargain. Not neighborly? No problem. Get together with a few co-workers, people from the gym, or parents at your kid’s school. You’ll find if you start asking around you’ll have plenty of people wanting to share this bounty with you!
Each week’s harvest is a mystery. The thrill of the unknown is a breeding ground for creative recipe development and new flavor experiences. You aren’t just stopping at the market and picking up the same thing over and over again. You and your family get the incredible opportunity of trying things you might not have otherwise purchased. Maybe your picky eater will find a new favorite. If nothing else, you’ll be supporting local growers and getting some darn good stuff in return!