Spring into Local Food
As a serious foodie living in Boston, I love the warmer weather: We finally have the opportunity to eat local!
The number one option for fresh food here and now is Community Supported Agriculture (or CSA), which allows individuals or families to buy a share of farm produce for a given season. Usually, CSAs distribute their shares on a weekly basis. Many CSAs have pick-up locations in urban centers, and some will deliver to your doorstep. The farm usually sets the contents of the share, although there are occasionally options.
Every year, there are new CSAs. Some memberships require a commitment of hours working on the farm or facilitating share distribution; others are solely fee-based.
Check out LocalHarvest.org’s CSA page. They have an unbelievable database that includes reviews of most of the programs. I love my CSA – Land’s Sake Farm in Weston, MA is one of the best ones out there.
If picking up a CSA share isn’t doable for you, there are alternatives. This past weekend, I walked around down:2:earth, Boston’s sustainable living expo, and was happily greeted by a number of new businesses designed to help you get fresh vegetables from the farm to your home.
If you’re in the Boston area, check out the new farmer’s market produce delivery service offered by Greenologist – I met with their founder yesterday at the expo. Unlike CSAs, Greenologist gives you the opportunity to pick and choose what you want from the farm and you pay every time you order.
What’s your favorite way to eat local? Leave a comment. If you have questions, please ask! No matter how you do it, making the choice to source your food from nearby farms and food brands will leave you, your family — AND your neighborhood’s economy — healthier.
P.S. Have some extra kale? Using local ingredients doesn’t have to mean lots of salads – check out this recipe for baked kale chips.
About today’s Guest blogger: Matt Gregory is the founder of EatWithMe.com, a community food blog. He works at The Harvard Common Press, an industry-leading cookbook publisher in Boston. Matt is passionate about food entrepreneurship and is a member of The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP). Contact Matt at matt@eatwithme.com
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6 Comments to 'How To Eat Local Foods'
April 15, 2010
I just joined a CSA for the first time and I am SO excited. I also have plans for a window herb garden – that’s very local!
April 15, 2010
Believe it or not, these baked kale chips are excellent! My leftovers got soggy though – maybe refrigeration was a bad idea ;-(
April 16, 2010
Mary-I’m so glad to hear you liked the recipe, I will have to try it. Susan’s mother raved about them too!
April 19, 2010
I’m looking forward to joining in my new town. They don’t open up again until January, though.
April 24, 2010
[...] you happened to read my post on the sustainable living blog Practically Green that included a recipe for kale chips, but you don’t have time to make them for yourself, [...]
June 7, 2010
[...] delightful post on Eat With Me, a food blog founded by another Practically Green guest blogger, Matt Gregory. Eileen is a former reporter for the Associated Press and has written Good Housekeeping and Forbes [...]
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