By: Maria
The most common form of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a vegetable/produce CSA in which a customer buys a share of the year's crop in exchange for paying at the beginning of the season (read more here). Each CSA varies in quantity, quality and price. CSA's differ from food co-ops, which can be equivalent to the produce you get at the grocery store (i.e., it's been shipped from far away and long ago and the quality is sometimes questionable); so it's important to do a bit of research prior to deciding between a CSA or food co-op.
Personally, I opt for the CSA. Not only am I supporting our local farmers, but I am assured quality produce that is seasonal and fresh.
What you may not realize, is that there are also meat CSA's!
Not only do you get the convenience of getting a box full of pre-ordered meats, but you get the most nutritious meat that comes from a family farm; raising their animals ethically, feeding them what they were meant to eat. No antibiotics, no hormones, no stressed animals. You can eat knowing that your meat came from animals that were allowed to roam pastures, eat grass, breathe fresh air and generally lead a happy life - the complete opposite with meat from animals purchased at local grocery stores. The families not only welcome visitors to their farms, they even encourage you to do so (there's a reason why the public is not invited or encouraged to visit factory farmed cows and chickens, folks!)
Two such farms are local and provide CSA shares (click on names for info on prices and delivery locations):
and
I have been a long-time customer of Lau Family Farm; where I get my beef and lamb products and am eager to order my chickens and uncured bacon from Christiansen Family Farm.
Give it a try!
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