Eatwell CSA (so good!)
I joined the Eatwell Farm CSA program about a month ago and wanted to recommned it to all who might be interested in seasonal organic produce. They deliver to neighborhoods all over the city and the east bay and for about 20 bucks a week and another 3 if you want eggs from their chickens (naturally blue and pink ones at that!) they'll drop of a big box of produce. I cook a lot and I find that my husband and I can finish off about a box a week. Its late winter now so we've been dining on turnips, kale, green garlic, fennel, leeks, oranges, apples, carrots, lemons, herbs, squash, radishes, cabbages, and lovely little heads of lettuce. It reallly can't be beat. And they include a newletter with recipes. I didn't ever make it to the farmers market very often, with this you make the choice once every 3 months and enjoy the suprise of beautiful veggies steps from your door every week.
China
Mar 17, 2006 06:21PM
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I love that Eatwell has an eggs option.
I use Capay (www.farmfreshtoyou.com) and love it as well. I can't say who has the better produce, but it sounds like we're getting the same kind of produce for the same price ($29).
Capay has the edge, for me, because you can cancel any time you want and they deliver to my door in San Francisco (vs. pick up only for Eatwell in San Francisco). Also, if I refer customers I get a free box!
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I think eatwell might be a little cheaper arond 19 a box if you subscribe in 13 month blocks. I like that you can get boxes every other week if you want and that you can stop it when you go on vacation and that it all comes (mostly) from one farm that you get to know. You're right about the door to door, but a few blocks isn't too bad, sure beats going to the grocery store. In either case, CSA's are fantastic.
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Wow, that is a huge savings if the box sizes are comparable.
Capay is very responsive as well in terms of allowing you to take a break from the service or doing it once a month, twice a month, etc.
They also will substitute things if you see something you don't want on that week's list, and they'll remove things permanently if there's a certain food you can't stand.
They also just started an herb of the month service where you get to try something unusual. The last month it was oatstraw (aka. wild oats).
You're right that it's great either way. Both farms have plusses and minuses.
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We actually subscribe to both Eatwell and Capay on an every other week basis for both of them. Items are very similar each week although it seems that Capay does get more items from other farms at times. Eatwell does sometimes have items from other local farmers. During strawberry, tomato and mandarin orange season it's never enough!
We have gotten artichokes from Capay in the past.
Love the eggs from Eatwell.
Eatwell doesn't let you customize at all - other than the swap box at the pickup site. I do like Capay for that option.
Basically we just have to supplement our veggie purchases at the farmer's markets based on what we want or need, but we always have plenty of veggies in the fridge and I love supporting the local farmers.
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I know I'm adding on VERY late, but I have to get in a plug for the Fully Belly CSA, though I don't know whether they reach San Francisco. I do know that they will deliver to one's doorstep in the East Bay. You can't customize your box but what you get is always high quality and, as other folks have mentioned, the relatively random nature of what you get helps stretch you as a cook, as my first-ever green garlic risotto from last week illustrates!
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I know I'm adding on VERY late, but I have to get in a plug for the Fully Belly CSA, though I don't know whether they reach San Francisco. I do know that they will deliver to one's doorstep in the East Bay. You can't customize your box but what you get is always high quality and, as other folks have mentioned, the relatively random nature of what you get helps stretch you as a cook, as my first-ever green garlic risotto from last week illustrates!
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I'll put in my two cents for Two Small Farms, which is a partnership of Mariquita and Highground Organics. They take a winter break and we just got our first box of the season. It included lovely little lettuces, sweet, complex white and orange carrots, turnips, Erbette chard, red cabbage, celery root, and leeks.
It's a huge amount of produce for a family with two adults and a baby, we split our box (and pick up duties) with a neighbor and it works out very well. The pick up is very convenient. Plus you can special-order any of the produce in your box if you need more one week. We get an email a few days in advance to tell us what's coming, and with suggested recipes. I can't wait till the strawberries come in, last year they were the best ever.
I've tried The Box and other CSAs and find this one to have the best diversity of produce week to week. I think Capay, Two Small Farms and Eatwell are all going to provide better quality and freshness the Tha Box and Planet Organics.
Unfortunately, no eggs. But you can add cut flowers to your order for a slight surcharge.
Link: http://www.twosmallfarms.com/
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thanks for your great input. it's totally convinced me to try out the CSA. i'm going with capay as i don't have a car and eatwell's dropoff locations aren't convenient for me. i'm opting to pick up mine from capay's store in the ferry building as i work downtown and end up there 1x/week anyway!
i wanted to reference you as how i found capay but don't know who you are?
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what are some other options? i looked at the one noodles suggested because i would def want it delivered to my door... but they dont have artichokes... and i need muh artichokes... what are some other farm delivery options... i had no idea this amazing possibility existed.
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The downside to farm delivery programs is that you don't get to choose what you get each week. Basically, you eat whatever's ready to be harvested on their farm (or their small selection of partner farms in the area).
You can look at a list, for example, and say "Hey, I don't want carrots this week, but those artichokes look really good and I'd like extra." But if there are no artichokes on the list, that means they have no artichokes on the farm.
So I'm not sure of Capay ever has artichokes, but I know they don't have them right now.
Organic Express is set up more like a supermarket webiste, so take a look. I've never used them and have no idea what the set up is like, though.
Also, not that I'm promoting their produce, but Safeway.com does deliver in SF and I find it really convenient for ordering heavy things like rice, flour, juice, and other things I can't lug home without a car.
Link: http://www.organicexpress.com/vHome.l...
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i was really into the CSA organic thing because it would encourage me to cook things and with things i ordinarily wouldnt. also im a waiter and i work a lot so i usually dont take the time to go to the farmers market and buy good produce to cook with... generally we just end up goign out to eat. i was interested in what different farms there are that do this kind of service because i just wanted to see the variety there is out there. im less interested in safeway.com and other such ordering sites because im fully able to shop for myself. i just wanted to not only support organic small farms but also to have a selection of things that force me to cook out of my comfort zone.
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That's exactly why I've enjoyed my CSA so much, and in fact why I like it that I can't switch things out (although most drop offs do have a swap box where you can trade your radishes for extra lemons and what not) I probably would have switched out my turnips and kale, but now I've discovered two new favorite veggies. In the world of choice, it's nice to just be suprised.
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