Colchester Farm CSA Week #11

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, Week #9, and Week #10.

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 I chose this week: carrots, rainbow carrots, watermelon, yellow potatoes, and indy gold beans.

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:

Similar prices, once you consider the organic offerings at each store. Since our practices at Colchester most closely resemble organic farming practices, it’s important to take this into consideration for the cost comparison.

Worth noting: I chose indy gold beans this week, and neither store carried this yellow bean variety. I like this variety because they are tender and mild with a sweet flavor. They’re super delish cooked with a little butter. I also chose rainbow carrots, which I have yet to see in a local store.  I have yet to find them in the store (yet another reason to work with a CSA program, they will often grow varieties not found in stores). I have found them at Whole Foods, but the closest Whole Foods to us in Kent County is not worth the trip for rainbow carrots.

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, and begins the week of September 7.