What Gives You Fresh Organic Produce Locally Grown at a Lower Price?

There are all sorts of ways to source organic fruit and vegetables. You can grow your own, buy from the shops, have it delivered from a specialist organic produce company or you can support your local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) scheme. Truth to tell, CSA schemes are popping up the world over and what a good thing they are!

Why are CSA schemes so good? Firstly the produce is grown by local farmers on local land. This means you can meet the growers and have any questions answered straightaway. Most CSA schemes grow organically but it’s always worth checking. Knowing the growers also gives you a chance to input any recommendations and preferences you may have. Secondly the schemes involve the local community, as participants and gardeners and purchasers/consumers. This is a benefit when more and more of our lifestyles are focused away from the community in which you live. My local CSA scheme is helping train long term unemployed people as gardeners. Thirdly the carbon footprint is minimal as the produce is locally grown. Fourth, the produce is picked and distributed very quickly which means fresher, vitamin rich fruit and vegetables.

This video clip reveals the contents of a CSA box, as well as giving a brief overview of the nutritional content of some of the vegetables. What I particularly like is that a lot of the vegetables are organic leafy greens which are expensive if you buy from the supermarket. Organic leaf vegetables are some of the most nutritionally rich food you can eat – so important in winter to help keep your immune system topped up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOo0YDHC_tQ

Another very valid point is that by supporting local farmers and CSA schemes you are not contributing to the coffers of the large multinational corporations that seek to dominate food production. You are helping the smaller independent growers maintain and develop their farms. This is important so that we do not lose our ability to choose where we buy food from.

Participating in CSA schemes is an excellent way of sourcing local food that is fresh and in season as part of your organic lifestyle.

Filed under: Organic Kitchen

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