This is my second year participating in Great Basin's Community Supported Agriculture Basket. I think it's a wonderful program. It's a weekly basket of local, seasonal, sustainable produce You prepay for the season and each week you pick up a big box full of a variety of goods. Sometimes you get nuts and fruits thrown into the mostly veggie mix. I split my pickup with two other friends as I am single and mostly cook for myself I could never finish one box in a timely fashion.
I'm enjoying the Spring Basket which is 10 weeks of various salad greens, garlic, green onion, fresh herbs, radishes, carrots, garlic and so much more. Summer is 14 weeks of bountiful produce (just take a look at their website to see all that's included!) with beautiful Fallon melons and the occasional basket of raspberries or strawberries that made me alarmed at how delicious the fruit can be. (I literally said "omg, these strawberries have so much strawberry flavor!!" because I had become used to those huge but bland or tart berries from the grocery store). I chose to participate in this instead of going to the weekly farmers markets because this way I'm forced to try new things I might not pick out on my own. It's been fun to try new veggies and get these beautiful mostly organic heirloom varieties as well. Each week they send out a newsletter keeping you updated as to what's being harvested and what to expect in the coming week so you can menu plan. They also include recipe suggestions each week. At the end of the season they hold a potluck "Day at the Farm" at Lattin Farms which was neat to meet others and go on Hay rides and corn mazes. The organizers and participating Farmers are gracious and good at taking feedback. I'm surprised at the variety of things that are grown in northern Nevada (or nearby) although there was quite an abundance of zucchini, tomatoes, and melons every week.
Overall it's a great program and I'll likely continue to participate as long as they offer it. They are expanding their pickup points and times and also offer a flower basket too. read more