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Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Community-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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