WEEK 9 CSA (Aug 3-8, 2009)

Welcome to WEEK 9 here at The Dahlia Farm. This week introduces New Potatoes, fresh cut Genovese Basil, Blueberries & Green Beans and revisits "Summer Spinach" (Chard), Baby Carrots, Zucchini, our unique green-tipped "Zephyr" Summer Squash and Kohlrabi.

Be sure to tell your friends to get their own share - but they don't have to wait until next year. CSA shares (and half-shares) are available now through the remaining second half of the season. Full shares are $25 per week and the generous half-share is only $15 a week.

A half-season share is a great way to test-drive the CSA model, especially if you're not sure the weekly market basket idea is for you. We are so sure you'll be satisifed, we are currently developing an off-season plan to deliver a 12-month-long New England CSA in collaboration with several other farms, bakers & pastry chefs, fishermen & meat producers.

Looking forward, other new ideas include a year-end harvest festival - a veritable Garden Party complete with wine and live music.

As always, please help us out with your feedback. Email, call us or post here. Your suggestions help us serve you better.

One last thing... The blueberries are wonderful, nutritious, local, picked by us, and high in antioxidants, however we've collaborated with another farm to bring them to this week's CSA so it is advised that they be washed thoroughly before being eaten. If you are on an organic-restrictive diet, you may want to donate them. Otherwise, you will find them the same or superior to any others in the marketplace.

Heres the rundown in video format for Week #9:



BTW, if you'd like to get you kids to eat green beans, try this:




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FARM TO FORK

The "locavore" movement is now firmly footed and international.

GOURMET Magazine features a regular video series and the rise of popular films and books such as Fast Food Nation, Supersize Me, In Defense of Food, and Food Inc have acted as catalyst to the current paradigm shift.

There is a promising future when one sees the likes of a 12-month New England CSA but also an ominous corporate/regulatory threat in the form of, say, HR 875.

At no point in history has the world's population been at a greater turning point with regard to it's future food, and never has conscious awareness been more important. At its heart, the locavore movement is all about food safety, supporting local community, flavor, nutrition, health and on a larger level, the environment.

One need not join a social-political group to make the world a better place, but simply read the back of the package rather than the front. "Low net carbs" may sound great but not at the expense of consuming mass daily quantities of "isolated soy protein, calcium sulfate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, calcium propionate, fumaric acid, potassium sorbate, monoglycerides, sucralose sodium metabisulfite" (real product). Small, concerted efforts produce great change.

A few days ago Radio Boston featured a story on CSAs and the locavore movement, with a specific focus on Massachusetts CSAs, many south of Boston. The show runs about an hour and was both exciting and interesting in its scope. The podcast can be heard here and is well worth a listen.


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