I recently signed up to receive deliveries to my neighborhood farmers market of locally grown organic veggies and fruit. The concept is called "CSA" community supported agriculture where you join others in pledging to support a farmer to grow your food. I've been exploring organic foods and have found they have a better texture and more flavor than factory farm grown items in most grocery stores. Have you noticed the difference in a tomato grown in your backyard bursting with flavor compared to one off the shelf, large and watery? That's what I'm talking about, so have decided to go on a quest for higher quality food. I'm also bored with the grocery selection, I can only take so much of the same old every week; apples bananas or oranges. Carrots, broccoli or squash. My first box of CSA food was pulled/cut from the earth that morning and contained things I've never seen or dared to try. Here's a peek...
These pics are from the farmers market in Little Italy. I picked up a basket of strawberries picked at 9am that day (see the sign), they were as tasty and sweet as they look. For me it's often a gamble on berries from the grocery store they look juicy then you get them home and they are sour or watery. You will have a strawberry OG if you bite into one of these.
Onto my box: mixed lettuce, raddichio, green onions, turnips, carrots, oranges, green garlic, bok choy, endives, broccoli greens, spinach. I took them straight home and rinsed them off, all the soil and a cute little green worm proof of authenticity!
To my surprise a bottle of local bee honey was included in the deal. Joy! I was running out. My favorite breakfast snack is toast with a spread of butter and honey. I also like it on cereal or in my tea it's a great sugar substitute.
Here's a view of The Inland Empire CSA booth where you can pick up many organic goodies each weekend, no need to pledge. I like the adventure of my surprise box. Leave it to myself and I'd never had tried raddichio or green garlic, amazing BTW.
I had a chance to meet and chat with Farmer Phil who grows the food - in real life! He personally thanked me for supporting the farm and gave me tips on how to prepare my mysterious new veggies. A matter of throwing a bit of garlic, pepper and olive oil in a sauté pan.
If you're looking for a CSA in your area you can bet there is a program if your city has a farmers market. And, many offer a low commitment trial. Google it! There are a few choices in San Diego here's where you can find Phil's farm out of Escondido: www.inlandempirecsa.com
Now go get adventurous with food. The worms aren't so scary.
