I'm a native Las Vegan who now lives in California, where the number of CSAs is as bountiful as the…read moreproduce. Hoping to share the benefits of fresh locally grown produce with my mom, who still lives in Vegas, I searched the internet (thanks, Yelp forums!) and was pleasantly surprised to discover a family-owned farm in Moapa which offered that and more.
Since 2010, my mom has been a Meadow Valley shareholder. The shares are split into seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter, and range from 8 to 14 weeks long. When we first signed up, a weekly box per season was the only option, but now they offer a Half Share (every other week), and a choice between a Standard Share (the vegetables in your basket are preselected) or a Premium Share (customize your basket online the previous week). You can pick up your basket directly from the farm, but they will also deliver to the Las Vegas, Henderson, and Mesquite areas for a small fee. Their prices are incredibly reasonable and the product far surpasses what you can get from a grocery store.
Obviously, the harvest varies by season. Still, after two years, my mom never fails to comment about how the fresh carrots or kale or beets or squash or (feel free to substitute your pick of produce here) are bursting with flavor. I never would have imagined that such an abundance of greens, veggies, and fruit could come from Moapa. Not only that, but they offer an Egg Share option, and sometimes have honey or bread. It's not uncommon for herbs or flowers to pop up, either.
I have to make special note about the quality of customer service offered by the owners, Lyndy and Bryce. My mom isn't internet-savvy, so I handle everything from my end, and how I "signed" her up to be a shareholder was complicated because of the circumstances. It didn't show from their end, though; they were happy to accomodate us and have always been quick with responding via e-mail. They even called her to make sure her first delivery was on par. My mom is picky and unafraid to be vocal about it, but Meadow Valley has far surpassed both her and my expectations.
I'm happy to support both their business and their principles. In the spirit of "community", they even support other local CSAs -- trust me, Las Vegans, if you haven't experienced what's akin to a farmer's market delivered to your door, you don't know what you're missing out on. Anyone looking for fresh, local, quality produce in the LV metro area should absolutely give Meadow Valley a try. Yes, you can join a CSA even if you live in a desert!