20 Jun
Buy your own farmer
Goldman will participate this summer in a community-supported agriculture program, or CSA. Members buy a share of a farmer’s crop, usually for $500 to $600, and receive a box of vegetables and fruits each week during the summer and fall. A box typically feeds three or four people for a week, although many farms offer half-shares for individuals or couples. The number of CSA farms has grown from about 50 in 1990 to more than 2,000 nationwide, according to a database maintained by LocalHarvest, a California-based group that supports buying locally grown food. More
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June 20th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Many years ago, in the Imperial Valley in California, we had a similar program for beef. For $350, you bought half a calf, which the rancher would feed and care for throughout the year. At the end of a year, you would receive a custom cut/wrapped side of beef. It was a great savings, even over the commercial bulk-beef services, as long as you had a freezer. We generally bought two, and staggered them six months apart.
I don’t know if they still do that, but if so, I’m sure the price has at least doubled. This CSA program sounds like a great idea too, for those that live close enough to agricultural areas to take advantage of it.
June 20th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Not a program destined for popularity in Japan.:-)