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DEL.ICIO.USCommunity-supported ag shares going fast
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Getting weekly bags of fresh produce from local farmers sounds incredibly appealing. That’s why community-supported agriculture programs are booming in metro Atlanta, with more interest than there are shares. Some of the popular CSAs have already sold out for the season, but others are just starting to sign up members.
Last year, I started a year-long series on CSAs by joining Farmers Fresh Food Network, a cooperative of nearly two dozen farmers from West Georgia and eastern Alabama. This year the group pulled back its early spring operation, limiting it to the area around Carrollton. But now that warmer weather is here and more spring crops will soon be available, they’re getting ready to expand to metro Atlanta.
Farmers Fresh just opened subscriptions for the season, offering a four-week tryout or a 12-week program. Among the produce they promise for April: lettuce, spinach, beets, broccoli, cabbage and some other farm products, like eggs. In May, look for strawberries, peas and some early field tomatoes. Prices vary; a four-week subscription for the standard plan, which promises five to seven items a week, works out to about $23 a week for a metro Atlanta dropoff site.
A premium program offers more expensive produce, like shiitake mushrooms, and more of the standard items. It’s available to 12-week subscribers, as is the standard plan. The standard is $240, plus a $2 a week surcharge for Atlanta dropoffs; the premium is $360. The season starts April 16, but subscribers can choose what date they wish to begin. There are dropoffs at various locations inside the Perimeter, and at some on the west side, basically along I-20 outside the Perimeter.
Want to find out what other CSAs are still available? Local Harvest is a good place to start.
If you’d rather get your local food at a restaurant, check out AJC dining critic Meridith Ford’s spring Dining Guide. She spotlights restaurants that work with area farms to showcase seasonal food, like 5 Seasons Brewing, Food 101 in Morningside and the Hil in Serenbe. Many are offering special spring menus starting this Thursday, March 20.
Have you joined a CSA this year, or belonged to one in previous years? If so, what did you think?
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By Stan
March 19, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
I want to join one but living in Braselton and working in gwinnett, I’m not sure if there is one that would work for me. I need to do more research on this but I really do want to join.
Stan
By dan
March 19, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
I’ve been a member of Mellowbellies CSA in Grant Park since it started some years back. It’s pretty much like having bacchanalia in your kitchen. The only downside is winter. Why do we dig up sweet potatoes when they’re already perfectly placed?
By Elizabeth Lee
March 19, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
Dan, I’m still eating the Mellow Bellies sweet potatoes!
Trying them with black walnuts and ginger preserves this week, as well as in a Thanksgiving-influenced stew with chicken, cranberries, rutabagas (guess where those came from?) and apples.
Did you try the OK Cafe recipe for roasted sweet potatoes and apples? It’s really very good, and the mustard/rosemary flavor dominates the sweet potatoes if that’s a good thing in your book, which it sounds like it might be; here it is.
By Drew
March 19, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Living near downtown Roswell, I find it hard to subscribe to any CSA, though I would certainly like to! I work over in Alpharetta so the thought of driving miles and miles somewhere to grab a box of veggies… once a week… every week… for a whole season or two, isn’t at the top of my list.
Any hope for me in Roswell E.L.?
By Elizabeth Lee
March 19, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
Drew, a couple of suggestions: Local Harvest lists a CSA called Freehome Gardens, in east Cherokee. It might not be that far from where you live/work, if you’re on the west side of 400.
Cane Creek Farm in Cumming is also not that far from the part of Alpharetta that’s west of Ga. 400, in Forsyth County. They’re sold out for spring, but last time I checked, had a few summer/early fall shares available.
You can find both of them on localharvest.org.
Some farmers will also do a delivery to your area, if you can line up a certain number of subscribers. You might also check with Riverview Farms, www.grassfedcow.com. It’s a large CSA and last summer they dropped at various locations around Atlanta, including some OTP, I believe.
I wrote about a home produce delivery service, based in East Cobb, that specializes in organic produce, about a month ago. Off the Vine provides Georgia farm products in season, although they do fill in with produce from other areas. You can check them out at offthevineproduce.com. It is not a CSA, but does get your doorside delivery.
Good luck!
By Drew
March 20, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
Thanks Elizabeth! After researching a bit I discovered Cane Creek is SUPER close to my sister in Cumming. It works out great because she can deliver to my home (we’re going to split it). Thanks again for the suggestions, one of them is a winner!
By Tim
March 20, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this
Elizabeth,
There are a number of great sources for standard fruit and veggy CSA’s. There’s a shortcoming in the market for grassfed beef, pastured poultry, heritage turkeys, pork and eggs, delivered in a CSA format. We have started that this year with delivery around Atlanta, and I hope that other farmers start to offer healthy meats raised humanely, naturally, and without antibiotics and hormones. There’s too much demand in this market, and not nearly enough supply.
Tim Nature’s Harmony Farm Elberton, GA Nature’s Harmony Farm Website
By Elizabeth Lee
March 21, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
Tim, thanks for letting me know about what Nature’s Harmony Farm is doing. Can you email me directly? I’d like to learn more about the service.
By Stan
March 21, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
Does anyone know of a CSA NE of Atlanta OTP? Prefer along I85.
TIA Stan