CSA --- A Locavore Baby Step

One of the first major milestones in my local food foray was signing up for a CSA this past summer.

CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, is a system whereby members support a farm operation by sharing the farm costs. In turn, the members receive a share of the harvest. Members usually pay up-front, early in the growing season when the farm operation needs the funds the most (VS the industrial model, where farmers are paid only AFTER the produce is purchased by the consumer.... this even goes for when you buy at the grocery store).

After researching several CSAs available in the Toronto area (e.g. Plan B, Green Earth, Mama Earth, Front Door), I selected Everdale. For me, it was the BEST choice BY FAR:

• Local pick-up (vs delivery.... not sure if it would work for those living in an apartment building)
• Select your own produce (vs receiving a box with surprise produce)
  
• All organic and local produce
• Bonus: free herbs!
  

Not only does Everdale run a CSA, but they also operate a not-for-profit Environmental Learning Centre --- providing farmer training, school programs, and educational tours and workshops open to the public. They are located about an hour's drive north-west of Toronto.

For more information about Everdale, visit www.everdale.org.

Photo: small Everdale share from early October, plus produce from the Trinity-Bellwoods Farmers Market -- carrots, beets, celeriac, potatoes, tomatoes, parsnips, onions, peppers, butternut squash.

Writer's note: I personally don't like the term "locavore". Though it's clever, it suggests "better-than-thou" and food snobbery. My aversion has grown considerably since I heard the term used on Lipstick Jungle (a TV show about 3 rich, whiny New York women) when the annoying, stuck-up character played by Brooke Shields was organizing a Locavore Thanksgiving. Barf.