CSA vs. farmers market

[jnu76]

I've been considering joining a CSA that's down the street from my house, but visiting the farmers market is a highlight of my week. For those of you that do one, is the surprise of it fun, or do you find yourself with pounds of something you don't know what to do with? I could get a half share for a very reasonable price. I like the idea of supporting a local farm, but aren't I supporting local farms by shopping at the farmers market? If you do a CSA, do you still visit a farmers market?
Anyway (sorry, I'm a little drink) if you do a CSA do you like it? Can you tell me about it, please?
Thanks!

[brandiewine11]

I liked the csa because it helped me think outside the box a little and got me to try things I wouldn't normally. We had some extra occasionally but had no issue sharing.

Our pickup was at the farmers market so I could get other things if needed at the same time.

[freezorburn]

I liked trying new things when I've done a CSA in the past. But then I got tired of receiving broccoli. Every. Week.

I'm going to split one with my brother this summer. Mostly because I'm wondering if it means we will see him more often.

We will still do the farmer's market. There is a nice stretch of lawn to hang out on next to ours, so we have been known to just hang out there all afternoon.

[Stringy]

When we did a CSA it was way more than we could eat and we had a lot of some things which was sometimes good and sometimes bad.

[ovenrack]

I'm currently pretty tired of cabbage and carrots. And pea shoots. Oh, the pea shoots. But, hah. That's an early spring share for ya. I think summer is better (more varied).

I do think that if you like to shop for all your produce at the farmers market, you will miss doing that if you get tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, etc. in your box.

[brandiewine11]

Apr 15, 2017 22:27:18 GMT -5 ovenrack said:

I'm currently pretty tired of cabbage and carrots. And pea shoots. Oh, the pea shoots. But, hah. That's an early spring share for ya. I think summer is better (more varied).

I do think that if you like to shop for all your produce at the farmers market, you will miss doing that if you get tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, etc. in your box.

Lol. Yeah, we did a fall or winter share once. Never again. So many rutabaga and carrots and potatoes. Roasted root veg every night....

[MapleMe]

I think that the advantage to a CSA over a farmers market is not having to go out to the farmers market or store for produce and it challenges you to get creative. Also an on-farm CSA often has extras that you can pick as much as you want of (like herbs, flowers or peppers).

But if you like going to the farmers market, want to choose your veggies or are going to be getting more than what the CSA offers, the farmers market is likely a better choice.

[MapleMe]

Oh, also sometimes CSAs are just a prepayment discount. We've got a couple at our farmers market that let you prebuy $240 worth of meat or veg for $200 (or so).

ETA: and then you choose whatever you want when you are at market.

[piccyami]

The only thing that holds me back from doing a CSA is the fact that I have to pick it up mid-day somewhere. I also love our farmers market and enjoy talking to certain vendors. Either way, we're supporting local farmers and getting amazing produce.

[TJ]

I miss my CSA.

[sarenu]

How does one go about finding a CSA. Our farmers market was good 3 years ago, but now we get one produce person who doesn't carry that much.

Plus it's always on days I work.

[piccyami]

I just googled "my area" CSA.

[dramaphile]

Apr 17, 2017 12:41:55 GMT -5 sarenu said:

How does one go about finding a CSA. Our farmers market was good 3 years ago, but now we get one produce person who doesn't carry that much.

Plus it's always on days I work.

Google?  We found the one we did through the local Earth Day fair thing, they had a booth.  But I've googled in our new area and was contemplating doing one this year.  It's just hard enough to have time to cook all those veggies when you're childless, let alone with a toddler.

I liked the mystery aspect of our CSA, because it forced us to use veggies I don't usually reach for at the grocery store.   The second year we did it, they gave you a credit, too, and you could order extra veggies or flowers or dairy products or meat and that was nice.  They also had an option where you could basically choose what was in your box every week and had a declining balance in your account.  

I'll probably just try to actually go to the weekend farmer's market and get local produce this year, we have some good stands since we're in-between Amish country and New Jersey.  I'm also really hopeful we can get our garden going and grow some of our own veggies.   I do miss my farm box, sometimes, those heirloom tomatoes were freaking amazing.

[sarenu]

Ouch $615 for 18 weeks of organic veggies.

Tell me I will love this. Or should I try out the ever other week for $360?

I might be interested in eggs every other week for $56.

[dramaphile]

Apr 17, 2017 14:28:35 GMT -5 sarenu said:

Ouch $615 for 18 weeks of organic veggies.

Tell me I will love this. Or should I try out the ever other week for $360?

I might be interested in eggs every other week for $56.

How big is the box?  I found when we had a box, it was more manageable to get an every other week box because then we had two weeks to use up the veggies.  

[sarenu]

Apr 18, 2017 7:52:26 GMT -5 dramaphile said:

Apr 17, 2017 14:28:35 GMT -5 sarenu said:

Ouch $615 for 18 weeks of organic veggies.

Tell me I will love this. Or should I try out the ever other week for $360?

I might be interested in eggs every other week for $56.

How big is the box?  I found when we had a box, it was more manageable to get an every other week box because then we had two weeks to use up the veggies.  

That's what I was thinking. I may email them because I'm also curious the average number of eggs to get a good idea of if we would rather have every other week.

I may go every other week and if we feel that we need more, next year I can do every week.

[brandiewine11]

Apr 17, 2017 14:28:35 GMT -5 sarenu said:

Ouch $615 for 18 weeks of organic veggies.

Tell me I will love this. Or should I try out the ever other week for $360?

I might be interested in eggs every other week for $56.

That's not a bad price for veggies. 

The place we use is 20 weeks, $650 for a full share or $400 for a half share. (A half share is still every week, just less in the box).

If you're only getting a dozen eggs every other week that is expensive though - over $6/dozen. The place we use is $7/dozen for the egg share and I do not participate in that one due to price. We get eggs from our daycare that taste just as good for $3/dz.