Colchester Farm CSA Week #10

My CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share program has started for the year. Check out Week #1, Week #2, Week #3, Week #4, Week #5, Week #6, Week #7, Week #8 and Week #9.

Our season runs for 26 weeks from June – November. I purchased a small share which means I get to choose 5 units each week during my pick-up. I happen to pick-up my share on Tuesday.

Here’s what Johnny chose this week:  lettuce mix, beets, carrots, green cabbage, Swiss chard, and bonus hot peppers.

Isn’t this a lovely photo he took, too? The colors of Week 10 produce are fabulous.

As part of my CSA cost analysis challenge, I’m visiting two local Kent County stores each week after my pick-up to compare prices of similar items. Here’s this week’s comparison:

Pretty surprising differences this week, and even in the price difference for certain items this week vs. last. The prices for both Swiss chard and lettuce mix changed quite a bit at Store #2 within the week. It’s telling, too, the cost difference between the regular store carrots and the organic store carrots.

Again, while Colchester Farm CSA is not currently certified organic, our farming practices most closely match organic farming regulations, which is why I include the cost for organic produce when I find it in the stores. When you consider the organic pricing at the two stores, it more closely matches the cost of Colchester produce for the week, at least within a small share.

The ‘x’ factor then becomes place — I know exactly where my produce originates, because I’ve seen it. I’ve walked the fields, I know the people who plant, nurture, and harvest my food. That’s invaluable.

More on the CSA

My CSA pick-up works this way: every Tuesday from 4-6 p.m., 1-2 people from Colchester (farm manager Theresa, or one of the apprentices) will set-up tables and produce with signs that indicate how much you can take of each item. Based on the share you purchased, you can take either 5 (small), 8 (medium), or 14 (large) different items.

If you live near Kent County, there’s still time to join, for a fall share, which runs 13 weeks.