A new way to CSA
What’s Cracking Good — Community Supported Market card
I joined a CSA last year.
I love the idea of supporting local farms, but it practice, the compost pile got as much out of it as I did.
Sure I picked up items I could use and I tried recipes I would have never attempted had I not been given turnips, radishes and lentils. The regular fresh-cut flowers always kept my home looking cheery. But each week I picked up a variety of unnecessary foods: loads of greens (I rarely make salads), herbs (I have an herb garden) and eggplant (my husband doesn’t like the texture).
Once I got some mystery greenery. “It tastes great sauteed in butter and garlic,” said the girl who handed over my weekly bag of goods.
What doesn’t taste great in butter and garlic?
As much as I wanted to support a local farm, I couldn’t financially rationalize continuing the CSA for another season.
Now, however, I have another alternative.
The Community Supported Market (CSM) card at Phoenix Public Market is basically a rewards program for local food. You purchase a card for a certain dollar value, $50, $100, $250, $500. The higher the card value, the better your discount.
Buy a $100 card for $95.
Buy a $250 card $225.
Buy a $250 card for $225.
Buy a $500 card for $425.
Use the card to buy anything you want from Urban Grocery and Wine Bar, including the Farmer’s Market. It could be greens, it could be fruit, it could be grass-fed beef, or a sandwich from the counter. Each week the website features deals especially for card-holders.
You choose which locally-grown/made product you buy, which means less waste.
You’ll have to find a new solution for the compost pile.
Phoenix Public Market
14 E. Pierce St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
