The Localvore Challenge Didn't Have to End Last Month

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Oct 31, 2008 4:00PM

Joining a Community Supported Agriculture program is a great way to cut out the middleman and get just a little bit closer to your food supply.

CSA’s are gaining in popularity, as word of the localvore and slow food movements spread. The basic idea is you sign up for shares at the beginning of the growing season and pay an upfront fee. This fee goes to the actual farmers to cover the operating costs of their farm for the season. In return you receive a weekly (in some cases monthly) share of whatever is produced on the farm. In most cases this is fruits and veggies, but there are some CSAs that offer egg, cheese and meat shares too.

Here are a couple places offering Fall/Winter CSA programs:

• Home Grown Wisconsin still have a few spots open for the Fall/Winter season. They have pick-up sites in different neighborhoods around the city. Check out their website for more details.
• Genesis Growers is a sustainable farm located in North Central Illinois that offers eggs and poultry as well as fresh produce through its CSA program.

If you don’t want to make a commitment for a whole season but still want to support local agriculture here are some other options.

• Growing Home is one of the more unique farms in the area. They have a more traditional farm located in far suburban Marseilles, but also operate two urban farms in Englewood, including the city's first year-round urban farm at 5814 S. Wood. These farms offer job training for homeless and previously-incarcerated individuals looking to re-enter the workforce. You can buy their produce at the Green City's Winter Market.
• We've profiled Irv & Shelly’s Fresh Picks before on Chicagoist. For the busy locavore, if you just can’t make it out into the blustery cold to pick up your produce share, have it delivered.

Gracias y besos, Jasmine.