Colchester Farm CSA Week #13
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, Week #10, Week #11, and Week #12.
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: yellow potatoes, tomatoes, mesclun mix, French breakfast radishes, and scallions.
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:
Neither store had mesclun mix, but I found general ‘spring mix’ and used that for price comparison. Also, neither store offered these items in the organic section, so no availability to compare Colchester items to the organic items.
Store #2 also had a buy one, get one sale for lettuce mix, so that’s reflected in the overall cost.
We’re halfway through the 26-week season! I’ll have more detailed analysis soon, but for now, I’ve determined that at least one store in Kent County area has comparable prices to the CSA. However, not a single week has gone by where I’ve been able to find an exact match for every item I’ve chosen through Colchester.
It’s been a fun task to compare costs, but it’s nearly impossible to compare quality. There is no comparison to my taste buds.
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.
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