Valley Bounty: CSA Shares

We’re fortunate here in western Mass to have so many opportunities to engage directly with local farms. There are regular farmers’ markets all year round, many of our roads are lined with farm stands, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares come in a plethora of shapes and sizes. Though committing to a full season’s share of a farm’s harvest may seem daunting if you’ve never done it before, I’ve also found the relationships I’ve developed with local farms through CSAs to be really rewarding — and it certainly gets me to eat more veggies! If you’re interested in a CSA share this season, now is the time to sign up — you can find resources at buylocalfood.org to help you choose a CSA that fits your needs.

Getting the most out of your weekly share is easy with a little planning. I like to do some meal prep for the week each weekend, and when it’s CSA season I often find myself prepping salads into mason jars to bring to work for lunch. Veggies from my farm share, a little olive oil and vinegar, and maybe some tuna or a hard-boiled egg to add a little protein make for an easy and tasty lunch — just make sure to put hearty things like carrots and peppers on the bottom and keep the greens on top, so everything stays crisp and fresh.

Valley Bounty is written by Brian Snell of CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture)