Colchester Farm CSA Week #9

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, and Week #8.

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: mixed lettuce, tomatoes, Swiss chard, small yellow potatoes, color variety peppers, and bonus (free) basil.

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 big differences this week (like last week). I’m still amazed at the difference in store prices. However, someone did point out to me that one of the stores is newer, and there’s a healthy competition happening between the many grocery stores in Kent County. So, that might have something to do with the price difference.

I was surprised that I didn’t find ‘fresh’ basil at one store. The other store only offered their ‘fresh’ basil in a plastic package. That’s one piece of the CSA program I haven’t mentioned — there are no packages to take apart when you get home. Everything is fresh, likely picked that day or the previous day. The food doesn’t have to be preserved in plastic to make it to your table. Many of the share members bring their own reusable bags to package the items until they get home, too.

I love my CSA pick-up basket:

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.

I can’t wait to continue this project throughout the 26 week program!