Tip on Saving on Organic Food
Last August we told you how to save money on organic produce by going to local farmers markets. But you can do even better by getting involved in community supported agriculture [CSA].
When you get involved in CSA you become a member or shareholder of the CSA farm. Many farms offer produce subscriptions, where buyers receive a weekly or monthly basket of produce, flowers, fruits, eggs, milk, coffee, or any sort of different farm products.
You'll get a different “basket” every week based on what is coming fresh; so, you may not be able to get everything you want anytime of the year, but whatever you have will be fresh and seasonal.
Most CSA farmers prefer that members pay for the season up-front, but some farmers will accept weekly or monthly payments. On the whole, your price for veggies and other goods will be lower than in the stores, because you are getting them direct from the growers. You may also be able to lower your costs further by working a small number of hours on the farm during the growing season. The number of CSA farms across the U.S. is estimated at more than 1,000. Local Harvest has a Zip Code and state-driven search engine to help you find a site in your area.
Comments
I was in a CSA once. I wound up taking veg I didn't like and/or was allergic to, so it didn't make financial sense for me. I go to the farme'rs market and find the stands that are no-spray and stick with them. Works for me!