Looking to trim down your grocery budget this summer? You’re not alone. While you may be already implementing strategies such as couponing, menu scheduling, and sale shopping, there’s another effective method you can employ to save more – subscribing to a CSA. Though CSAs are a relatively new concept for some, their appeal is increasing and being more widely embraced.
CSA, an abbreviation for Community Supported Agriculture, is a strategy that lets you pay a farmer ahead of time for a portion of their produce. As a return for your early investment, you receive a bundle of fresh and often organically grown fruits and vegetables every week from June through October. The produce quantity is typically three-quarters or one bushel.
The beauty of many CSAs lies in their local and organic roots, ensuring fresher produce than what’s available at your local grocery store. You can expect to have the vegetables picked fresh either the preceding night or the morning of your delivery. If you usually opt for organic foods at the supermarket, you’ll be impressed at how much further your money goes when you buy into a CSA.
So, how do you find a reputable CSA that can serve you? A great place to start looking is localharvest.org. This website is excellent for identifying farms around your location, coupled with reviews from other customers, and the farmer’s personal message. You can take it a step further by seeking recommendations from your friends or relatives. Before signing up, feel free to make inquiries about touring the farm, as most farmers would happily accommodate such requests and allow you to familiarize yourself with the person behind your food and the farm.
It’s important, however, to mention that there could be a couple of cons associated with CSAs. First, they require an upfront payment, which might be financially straining for some families. For example, paying $850 for a 19-week delivery by May 1st can be a challenge especially when the farms aren’t ready to serve until June 8th. The high upfront payment notwithstanding, the return in fresh, organic produce is typically far more than what you’ll get for the same amount at a grocery store.
The second disadvantage is the inherent risk associated with farming, such as crop failure due to natural disasters like hurricanes or floods. Under such circumstances, you may not receive any produce. Though such situations are unusual, they can still happen. During dry periods, for instance, the yield and variety of vegetables received might be negatively impacted. However, the bright side of consuming local, in-season, and organic produce, and saving money while at it, far outweighs the potential drawbacks. Maximize your investment by purchasing the largest share possible to freeze the surplus, providing you with fresh produce during fall and winter.
