Photo courtesy of Seeds of Hope CSA
Seeds of Hope CSA offers gorgeous produce at income-based prices.
When you buy into a community supported agriculture (CSA) share, you’re getting a whole lot more than a box of veggies. Under most CSA share agreements, customers pay farmers an advance at the start of the season to receive a season’s worth of nutritious goodies, delivered or picked up on regular intervals. Sure, it’s a sweet deal for farmers, but the health benefits of eating CSA-sourced meals are often overlooked. Grown in local, chemical-free environments, most CSA produce eliminates the guesswork of grocery store shopping by proving whole, fresh, and label-free ingredients in a conveniently packaged box. Plus, it’s a lot more fun.
“It's an amazing feeling to sit down to a meal you prepared and realize that everything you're eating is healthy and local,” says Jackie Kinealy, a member of the Fair Shares CCSA. “It feels good to pick up our share every week, see the same people, talk about what's in season, and learn recipes for new ingredients. It is so much better than going to the regular grocery store. It's a different rhythm.”
Here's how local CSA programs are addressing common wellness concerns.
Challenge: I’m on a budget. Do you have any solutions to eating well on a dime?
Solution: On a mission to increase access to affordable and fresh food, Seeds of Hope Farm offers an income-tiered CSA program. Sponsoring members pay $28 per share, which helps provide a steep discount to low-income members, who pay $12 per share. “ This system allows us to offer quality produce to our underserved Spanish Lake residents at an affordable price, and sponsors feel good about helping a family in need. It's a win-win,” says Deirdre Kelly, Seeds of Hope community liaison. The program also approaches economic solutions to health and wellness with a few practical tools: a paid teen internship farming program, recipes that come with each share, and a free farm dinner each month to teach folks how to transform the veggies in their weekly share into delicious, well-rounded meals.
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Photo courtesy of Fair Shares CCSA
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Photo courtesy of Fair Shares CCSA
Challenge: I avoid gluten and dairy. Can CSA shares work with my diet?
Solution: Yes. Fair Shares CCSA allows you to swap out foods with gluten or other allergens for non-produce items of equal or lesser value. The same applies for vegetarian members wanting to trade out meat. Fair Shares will even send member the list of items the night before if they want to trade anything out. Each share includes a protein, veggies, and non-produce foods, including treats like like American grass-fed beef, Ozark Mountain Orchard strawberries, Family Harvest marinara sauce, Midwest Pasta fettuccine, and a choice of Prairie Fruits cheese.
Challenge: We want healthy, whole food for our family, but our kids are picky. Will everyone be happy with CSA selections?
Solution: Based in Beauford, Missouri, Rosy Buck Farm has responded to particular buyers with a customized “Build Your Basket” program. Members can get 16 weeks of a Salad Share, Chef Share, or Entrée Share depending on their lifestyle and needs. Each package is an opportunity to experiment with native Missouri crops, while staying true to what’s realistic for members' lifestyles and schedules. Visit rosybuckfarm.com to browse the farm’s offerings.
Challenge: I’m wary of pesticides and other chemicals. Can you recommend a local source that uses clean, organic practices?
Solution: When members opt for Crown Valley Organics produce, they can expect food that's grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic chemicals, or genetically modified seeds. Healthy soils produce healthy crops. That’s because nutrient-rich, chemical-free soil encourages high levels of soil biodiversity and a healthy mix of beneficial bacteria; at the same time, it wards off exposure to heavy metals and soil pathogens. Take note, though: Crown Valley Organics is no longer running a CSA program, but you can still find the produce across the St. Louis region at these locations.
Visit localharvest.org to find more local farms and CSA programs.
