Tips to Maximize Your CSA From Mike's Organic Delivery

Having connected farmers to consumers for 10 years in Fairfield & Westchester Counties, Mike's Organic owner Mike Geller knows a thing or two about CSAs. And if there was ever a time to give a CSA a chance, it's now! First and foremost, our farmers need us. As many farms rely significantly on business from restaurants and other sources, a great way to support our farms right now is through signing up for a CSA.

This crisis has highlighted the importance of small, local farms. If planes stop flying or processing plants close, it is they that will feed us...let us never forget that. Second, it is a way to guarantee that fresh, healthy, local food will be on your table for a period of several months. There is so much uncertainty in the world and this is one way to regain some control over your food. Also, so many of us are home cooking and a CSA allows you to be creative and introduce new things to your family! 

If you take care of your produce, it will take care of you. It's so fresh when you get it, and if you just give it a little love it will give a whole lot back. 

Here are some easy tips to maximize your CSA:

Sort all of your items immediately – Then you can determine where they should live (crisper in fridge, shelf in fridge, pantry, or counter). Then make space in the appropriate areas so you have space for all your goodies.

Take care of your greens – Greens are the most fragile items you will get each week and also some of the most nutritious. The three factors that make greens wilt are: temperature, lack of humidity and direct sunlight. So, if you keep them cool, damp, and out of the light they will last longer. My little trick is to wrap all my greens in a damp paper towel and pop them right in the crisper drawer in the fridge immediately. This will increase their shelf life and prevent waste.

Have a plan – Hopefully, your CSA includes recipes, which can help you plan out your meals for the week. If it doesn't then after all your fruits and veggies are safe in their respective homes, take a few minutes to sit down and plan out some meals for the week. Lettuce is very fragile, so maybe the day your share arrives can be "Salad Night" each week. Beets last for a long time, so those can wait for later in the week. 

Remove the tops of all root veggies – This is an insider tip, and oh, does it help! Any root that comes with tops (carrots with tops, beets with greens, radishes with greens etc.) will last much longer if you immediately remove the tops and then store the roots on their own. The greens wick moisture away from the roots, so after only four or five days those turnips will be soft. Removing the tops can help them last for up to a month if necessary! For something like carrots, maybe those tops go in the compost heap. Beet greens and radish greens are delicious and nutritious, so those can be treated just like your other greens, wrapped in damp paper towels and ready to be cooked. 

Do a big Sunday cook – Our share arrives Monday – Thursday, so my advice for all my customers is always to do a big cook at the end of the week to make sure nothing goes to waste and you have room for the incoming new items. Make a big stir fry with that hearty kale, those yummy spring onions and tasty cherry tomatoes. 

Don't be afraid and have fun – The most important thing to remember about doing a CSA is that there will be items you haven't tried before and it is meant to expand your palate and appreciation for all the wonderful produce our local farmers grow. Try new things, be adventurous and make note of what you don't like so you can let the farmer know for next time.

Mike's Organic Summer CSA program begins June 8; space is limited.