I now love Thursdays because they are CSA delivery days, my weekly Christmas on Thursday. We got our first box today for the Sandy Spring CSA. My new pickup point is an outparcel of Columbia off Cedar Lane. The list at the site had the confirmed contents of what was harvested and packed for the 40 or so members of this drop off point. We get to go to the web site and see in advance what they hope to pick and box.
CSA contents Week One
The collards were the only thing not included in the final tally. That’s OK because eleven items, mostly greens, is more than enough. I barely fit them all in a picture.
The hubby and I did a quick calculation of what we would pay at farmers’ markets and Roots for organic veggies like this. Since I had to stop at Roots to get organic chicken and shiitake mushrooms and ginger to make chicken chow mein with the bok choy, I got some of their prices. The tally here:
We got a pound of lettuce mix. At Silver Spring Market, for organic lettuce mix, it is $14 a pound. At Roots,$9.
We got a large bok choy weighing 12 ounces. At Roots, $3.69 a pound. Cost approximately $3.
Leaf lettuce, $2.49 each. We got two. So, $5.
Scallions, two bunches. Ours were a bit bigger than Roots. They were $1.69 a bunch. So, $3.50.
Parsley. $1.69.
Cress. $1.69, but ours was Persian cress and way more of it than the bunch at Roots. We had 10 ounces of cress. Estimate around $3 for ours.
Spinach $2.49 a bunch. Our 5 small bunches were about the equivalent of twice the size of their bunch. So, $5.
French breakfast radishes. No real comparison, but their radishes were $2.49 a bunch. Say our specialty radishes, like those we find only at Dupont Circle and cost $4 a bunch.
Baby Hakurei turnips. Last time I bought them at Dupont they cost me $4.
Total:
Conservatively — $38. If I got fresh organic lettuce mix instead of Roots in a plastic container, add $5.
The $29.72 a week we pay for this CSA is well worth the price, considering I don’t have to run to organic markets and far away farmer’s markets to get some amazingly fresh veggies. We like the surprises, and the exotic items are interesting to experiment.
It takes about 30-40 minutes to clean and put away the veggies.
I have already been menu planning, and chow mein is a big item. So is a colcannon with turnips, potatoes from Boarman’s, the turnip greens, radish greens and some of the cress and spinach.
A pesto or two is also in the running.
Salads for lunch with some tuna or chicken.
I love opening that box and seeing what goodness is within it.
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Do you eat the radish tops?
Great job on the price comparison! I’ve often wondered how much I would have to spend to buy each item in my CSA share, but I’ve never done the actual legwork.
I love the list of products with their origins, too. What a beautiful bunch of greens.
Tammy, yes, they are edible. I am going to make pesto with them and some of the cress and the parsley. I make a jar of pesto to use on pasta or spread on toasted bread to serve with soup.
Kat, I saw someone do this analysis last year on their CSA so thought I would try it. I may not do it every week, but hope to do it often enough to get a feel for what we are paying,
Last year was a great year for the PA farmers. Huge amounts of food every week. Hope this Year’s weather cooperates.
Great Post! I would love for you to link back to my “What’s in the Box?” link party 🙂 http://inherchucks.com/2012/05/10/whats-in-the-box-25/. Hope to see you there!