Support Local Produce by Joining a CSA

Eat Local Philosophy

Charleston is a city of small spaces. To get locally grown produce at home that promotes sustainable habits and better eating, some of us are lucky enough to have a garden, but others are forced to be a little more creative. One of the founding rules (yes we have rules) of Charleston Plates is to tend towards the local whenever possible. Not only do we believe that, in most cases, this will provide the highest quality and most interesting variety of ingredients, but it supports the idea that sourcing ingredients locally is profitable. If restaurant owners see that their diners prefer locally sourced ingredients, more restaurants will source locally, causing more local producers to become more competitive and creative, inspiring more local entrepreneurs to start producing higher quality, interesting food products, making it easier for local restaurants, and ultimately their diners, to get those hard-to-find items right here in Charleston. In that nurturing environment, we have the opportunity to create a very strong and interesting food culture that delivers the highest quality ingredients, and all of the benefits are reaped locally. In short, demanding local ingredients promotes more good food in town. See how that works?

If you ask most chefs Downtown, where they got their shrimp, many times you will hear, "Came off th'boat this mornin'", and that ain't no lie. You know why? Because that is the freshness that is demanded by the restaurants of their vendors, and of the restaurants by their diners.

What is CSA?

So, you want a little piece of that local produce pie? To pump a little life into this growing ecosystem of awesome food? You can by supporting local vendors that are pushing the restaurant industry towards accountability, and showing them that it is profitable to source locally.

Many of the farms that provide produce directly to the local restaurants, also sell directly to the general public. They are often present at one of the many farmer's markets throughout the area. And, if you like, you can make your way to the market, browse the produce, and fill your basket with local goodies. Something that most people are not aware of is that many of these farms deliver weekly by subscription. It's like Netflix, for local produce. It is called Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). You pay upfront for the season, and get a box of fresh produce delivered weekly to a convenient pick-up site. If the weather is cruddy, or you want to sleep in and don't make it to the farmer's market, that's okay. They bring you a great selection local fruits and veggies every week.

The Benefits of CSA

You do not choose what they bring, so you get some interesting produce you never would pickup at the store. If you like to cook, a huge delivery of patty-pan squash, red fingerlings, and beets could really inspire your creativity. Personally, I have subscribed to the Gruber Farms spring season CSA for the last two years. Since I live in a small apartment, and my balcony gets no light, I intend to do the same this spring. It has really been a fun and educational experience. Check out their website here: Gruber Farms CSA. It explains the whole deal, and shows a list of possible pick-up locations.

Why should you do it?

• Weekly deliveries of  high-quality, local produce
• Get to try new foods, stuff you can't get at a supermarket.
• Promotes healthy eating.
• Inspires home cooks to be more creative.
• Supports local business.
• Demonstrates a demand for higher quality in local ingredients

Check out this great list of other local CSAs from the Charleston City Paper.

Here are some pictures of some of my boxes from last year - this is the smallest box. More than enough for our little family.