CSA recommendations?

Question

Despite the winter dragging on, I am thinking about CSA's and summer! Does anyone have a CSA they particularly like? Organic v. conventional is not important. What is important is the price/value relationship, which is where my CSA last year fell down. We live in S. Mpls, but willing to pick up anywhere within approx 20 min drive. Any recs are much appreciated!

Answer

Most CSA's grow very similar things. Pick the one that drops off closest to you. I dig the Bossy Acres women, but I am not a subscriber.

Answer

You might consider going to Seward's upcoming CSA fair and speak to the farmers directly. http://seward.coop/posts/235

~TDQ

Answer

Completely agree with what everyone wrote. Most people on this thread are going to hate this, but it is what it is. A teachable moment on how capitalism works. 

The CSA construct subsidizes the farmers and their choices of what to grow and sell. 

The farmers market rewards growers who are growing and selling what people want to buy. 

I prefer to shop the farmers markets. And I'm happy to pay the premium for the first asparagus and heirloom tomatoes of the season, as opposed to the CSA who is growing as much as he or she can for the cheapest possible price. That's why there's lots of lettuce for six weeks. It's a super easy and cheap crop to grow.

[An aside. Decades of gardening and years of starting seeds in my basement really makes me appreciate and understand pricing. Things like rosemary and leeks are difficult in our climate. Cukes, zukes, green beans and tomatoes are a breeze.]

And, finally, shopping the farmers markets provides many teachable moments for the growers, who can see what is selling well at what price. Which provides them with better intel on what to grow and charge next year. 

Capitalism! It works.

Answer

I love the idea of a CSA but it 's not pratical for me. Someone else deceided what I get. At a farmers Market I deceide. CSA's to me, seem like a ongoing contribuition to a Kickstarter campaign.

Answer

You guys know CSA means "Community Supported Agriculture", right? If you don't know what that entails, don't sign up. The long and short of it is getting produce at a premium price from a local (usually organic) source vs. having to drag your butt down to the Farmers Market every week.


Sarah, what tomatoes do you grow? I just started my first seeds Sunday night! I've got over 40 seedlings of ultra-hot peppers, plus some bean, lettuce, etc. going! Really excited for spring!

Answer

I liked our Featherstone CSA last year. I split a Grande with a friend. Our boxes contained a nice mix of produce each week (both staples and slightly more unique crops). It was about the same price as if I would have gone to the farmers market and gotten the same thing. They are organic so for my price comparison, I am comparing with organic veggies and fruit of equal quality. 

I think because they are a bigger farm that also sells to stores like Whole Foods and the coops they are able to keep the boxes pretty full each week even in somewhat problematic weather. (Although it also means that you do not get the tons extra either.) To me, the convenience of a box and the variety made it worth the fact that I did not pick out the stuff myself.

Answer

Thank you all so much for the recommendations! I have some decisions to make now. I will probably check out the CSA fair in a couple of weeks because I do like the idea of speaking to the farmers directly.

Side note: I recently moved back to "God's country" as my Grandma calls it ;-) from a different city where I also had a CSA. So glad to be back in the Twin Cities but hear ya on the shorter growing season here. Was caught off guard at how quickly my CSA shut down last fall.

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