The Mission

My goal in writing the Farm Share Efficiency Hotline is to inspire more of you to support local agriculture and join a CSA. I've heard many of you say that you are hesitant to do so because you're afraid you'll receive a bag full of produce that you won't like or don't know how to cook. Guess what, I felt the same way when I first joined a CSA- and I have a culinary arts degree!

I did not grow up eating fresh produce like mustard greens, swiss chard, and radishes, so working with these ingredients was not second nature for me. However, going into my second year as a member of a CSA, I realize that with just a little planning and a little preparation, it isn't difficult to turn the fresh produce into wonderful creations.

I've also realized that I love the convenience that the farm share affords me: once a week I drive a few blocks from my house to pick up a bag of produce that will last me all week. It's that simple. All the decisions have been made for me- that's a beautiful thing for a working mother who'd rather not spend her free time at the grocery store. Don't get me wrong though, as a foody I love perusing the produce at Whole Foods and making an event out of visiting the farmers' market, but getting out to Whole Foods eats up time and I often forget which day is market day. It's just easier for me receive the farm share, and besides, I can always head to the market for additional produce, if I remember.

In these posts you can be sure to find practical advice for using up your entire bag of produce each week. I hope to not only motivate you with recipes based on pantry staples, but to also inspire you to try new ingredients and expand your horizons.

My career in documentary film has drilled into my head the need for annotations when explaining something, so you will find plenty of links that will lead you to definitions and additional information.