If you live in the Monterey Bay area, chances are you’ve come across the term “community supported agriculture” (“CSA” for short). CSAs are becoming a vital economic tool for small farmers and a favorite way for many consumers to get the freshest possible fruits and vegetables. It’s a true win-win.
Let’s say you sign up to become a Serendipity Farms CSA member. In spring, you’ll pay the farm up front for a season’s worth of fresh produce. In return, once a week we’ll deliver a box of freshly harvested produce to a location in your neighborhood. You swing by, pick it up, and when you open it in your kitchen a few minutes later, you’ll find gorgeous, seasonal organic fruits and vegetables picked that morning in our Carmel Valley fields—bursting with flavor, nutrients intact.
You’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that your CSA membership has helped the farm at the beginning of the growing season, when cash is typically scarce—enabling us to buy seed, pay workers and plan a successful season. In fact, it’s safe to say CSAs are critical to building a sustainable economic ecosystem for small organic farms. That’s not just good for the local economy, it’s good for the planet too.
Just like the chefs who special order our produce, you’ll be getting organically grown heirloom varieties chosen for flavor complexity. Every box includes a salad green (think spinach, lettuce or arugula) and a fruit like strawberries or blueberries, but the rest of the box’s contents are up to Mother Nature: it’s a mix of whatever’s ripe on the farm that week. You might even find produce in your box that you’ve never cooked with before, so we send out newsletters with recipes and tips on preparation. People often tell us their CSA shares lead them to more adventurous cooking and eating—which is pretty great when you think about it.
“It’s exciting to open the box and be surprised by what we receive. Eating seasonal fruits and vegetables at their peak of ripeness is not only healthy but a great way to show my daughter how important it is to eat healthy, local and fresh organic produce and take care of our planet at the same time.”
“My husband and I have been consistently impressed with the variety and quality of produce we receive in our CSA box from Serendipity Farms. Buying organic produce directly from the farm is a fantastic value, and we feel really good about supporting a small farm in our community.”
“Hi Jamie. I just wanted to let you know how much my husband and I are enjoying Serendipity produce. The spinach and strawberries, in particular, have been the most delicious we’ve ever tasted. I could go on and on! Thank you so much for your hard work!”
Intrigued? Join our CSA and see how tasty eating local can be!
