17 March 2025

Grocery bills are still going up, and things will probably get worse before they get better. I'm not so concerned about the price of eggs; I have my plant based alternatives for any application. Bananas, beans and canned tomatoes remain ridiculously cheap (I always keep chickpeas and a can or two of fire roasted tomatoes in my pantry). But once you try to introduce a variety of fresh, whole vegetables and fruits, things seem to get more pricey. The “value added” processed foods are even worse.

I'd been thinking about that term. What's the added value there? They take a perfectly nutritious piece of food (e.g. a potato), add a whole lot of inputs (water, energy, packaging, transport) to produce a food-like substance (e.g. chips) devoid of the original nutrients. The ten companies that control our food supply, the petroleum companies (now using their fossil fuels for plastic packaging), and the healthcare/insurance system (who reap the rewards of our poor health) are likely the only ones getting more value out of that!

In any case, there's a way you can get quality food at reasonable prices, support local farmers AND improve your health at one fell swoop. It's called Community Supported Agriculture and it means you purchase a membership in a farm, ahead of the growing season; in exchange, you get a share of their weekly harvest. Farming is more risky these days (although regenerative approaches can help make farms more resilient), so it's important to remember that CSA members share that risk with the grower. But I've been a CSA member for 10+ years and rarely been disappointed.

The food couldn't be fresher. In many cases, the farmer has actually harvested on the day of delivery (retaining more of the nutrients than supermarket greens trucked across the country and left on the shelf for days or weeks). CSA's often have events or farm tours, so members can really see where their food comes from. It's apropos that this nutrition month's theme is “food connects us”, because it feels like we've forgotten the connection with those who grow our food. Farmers are, quite literally, our lifeline.

My first CSA experience was picking up Roxbury Farm veggies in NYC as a grad student (RIP and thank you to Joan Gussow for connecting me to my food). I resumed membership in Armonk and looked forward to it each week, but since I moved, pickup is no longer just down the block, so I wanted to find a new option. I decided on Pro Brothers Farm, because I can pick up at DIG Farm and connect with my Westchester Local Food Project friends weekly. I can't wait to get started!

There's still time to grab your membership in a CSA. If you live in Northern Westchester, you're in luck, because I've done the research for you. If you live anywhere else in the USA, check Local Harvest for your nearest - they don't have all the data, but they list over 4000 farm share options, from the Hudson Valley all the way to Alaska. Readers outside the US, please let me know about the farm connection opportunities available near you - I love to learn!

Northern Westchester Community Supported Agriculture

Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard, North Salem

13-18 weeks, from $365. Unique add-ons include bread, cider (harvested, pressed and fermented on site) & beer, coffee, milk, mushrooms, beef, cheese, flowers.

Hilltop Hanover Farm Membership, Yorktown Heights

Not quite the typical model, but you can pay the farmers in advance and then buy what you like at their farm stand.

From $300, includes 10% off at the farm shop using your credit, canvas produce bag, farm tour and farm classes (at higher levels)

Pro Brothers Farm, Brewster

20 weeks, 3-7 vegetables per week, from $441 for pick up in Brewster or North Salem (extra $60 for a whole season of home delivery)

Additionally, they offer add-on subscriptions for mushrooms, microgreens, artisanal cheese, prepared food, eggs, flowers, honey and meat.

Purdy’s Farm CSA, North Salem

14 weeks from $695, abundance of produce (grown on site) with local milk and eggs and 10% off at farm shop on pickup day. Fish add-on available. This is the same food served at the community-oriented Farmer & the Fish restaurant.

Roxbury Farm, Kinderhook

24 weeks, 5-8 items per week, from $575

Pick ups in Armonk, Katonah, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, Pleasantville or White Plains

Fruit, egg, beef, pork or chicken shares also available