Another amazing delivery of gorgeous, delicious, colorful produce. We are so lucky here in California to have this variety. Tomatoes are at their peak, and there’s also an abundance of fruit. And did I mention it’s all local and organic?
If you’re new to this blog, CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, not the Confederate States of America. We’ve been getting this delivery every two weeks for almost three months and we always eat every bit of it. For one thing, it’s so delicious it’s hard to imagine letting it go to waste. For another, it’s so much fresher that it lasts much longer than produce bought at the supermarket.
This week we got (roughly clockwise starting from the back): watermelon, cantaloupe, purple bell peppers, heirloom tomato, Russian banana fingerling potatoes, mixed baby heirloom cherry tomatoes and a pepper on top, black grapes, pluots, nectarine, treat (cherry chocolate fudge), Amana orange tomato, mixed baby eggplant, strawberries, sweet onion, bi-colored corn, and red leaf lettuce.
Yesterday I linked to this article refuting the recent study that claims that organic produce isn’t any better for you than commercial produce. Check it out because it’s another instance of the media grabbing onto one study that refutes hundreds of others. Study after study has shown the benefits of an organic diet. Not to mention, there are many more reasons to eat organic besides your health. It’s better for the community to support the local farmers and it’s better for the planet not to ship foods around the world when they’re out of season. And one more big reason: it tastes SO much better.
A reader asked me which I valued more, local or organic? Luckily, with this delivery I don’t have to choose. But I haven’t always bought organic produce, mostly because of the price. Some fruits and vegetables are more important to buy organic, particularly the ones that absorb a lot of pesticide into their skin. But if someone put a gun to my head (unlikely as that is), I’d choose local produce from the Farmer’s Market over organic produce from Whole Foods. There are a lot of steps the small farmers have to go through to get the “organic” certification, they don’t necessarily use a lot of chemicals.
It’s a good question. What do you think? Which part of the equation is more important, local or organic? I’m encouraged by the fact that more and more people are demanding healthy food. I think it will make it more affordable for everyone. But that’s another issue, and another post…
Next time I’ll attempt to answer the question,”Why should I join a CSA if I already go to the Farmer’s Market?” Another good question, so stay tuned.
Please share your thoughts, ideas, questions, and opinions in the Comments section.
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