People often ask me if there is a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program available in the Santa Monica area. CSA is a program where members of the community pre-pay a farm to grow fresh produce for them for a period of time. Not everyone has the time to go to the Farmers Market each week to shop, and joining a CSA is another great way to purchase fresh produce direct from a local farm.
J.R. Organics Farm, who can also be found at the Saturday Pico Farmers Market, now offers a CSA. You can join the J.R. Organics CSA on a weekly or bi-weekly basis for 12 weeks, or you can join on a weekly or bi-weekly trial basis for eight weeks. J.R. Organics offers pick up locations at the Santa Monica Pico Farmers Market on Saturdays, and the Mar Vista Farmers Market on Sundays. The CSA basket will consist of eleven different items in a ten-gallon plastic tote box to keep everything fresh and crisp. On your next pick up, you return the empty box and receive another. Your basket will be packed with fresh, organic seasonal fruits and vegetables that are selected each week by Joe Rodriguez, the farmer. A weekly basket will provide enough produce for a family of two to four people. You can also add in a fresh cut bouquet of beautiful flowers in addition to your produce.
J.R. Organics began farming over 50 years ago with Joe Rodriguez, Sr. on the beautiful rolling hills of Valley Center, California; it is now farmed by Joe, Jr., a fourth-generation farmer. J.R. Organics has been a certified organic farm since 1986.
For more information, and to view the contents of recent baskets, please visit jrorganicsfarm.com and click the CSA tab.
UPCOMING EVENT: The next Farmers Market Library Panel will take place on Thursday November 13 from 7 – 9 p.m. in the MLK Auditorium at the Santa Monica Main Library. The City of Santa Monica Farmers’ Market and the Santa Monica Public Library present A Garden in Every Yard: Bringing Edible and Sustainable Plants Out to Play. The moderator is Russ Parsons, Los Angeles Times writer, and author of “How To Pick a Peach.”
The panel will consist of:
Jimmy Williams and Logan Williams: Farmers, gardeners, and owners Hayground Organics;
Marilee Kuhlmann: Comfort Zones Garden Design;
Tara Kolla: Silver Lake Farms, designer of Kim Boyce’s edible yard;
Kim Boyce: Former pastry chef at Spago and Campanile, and vegetable monger for Coastal Farm; garden co-creator with husband Thomas Boyce, Executive Chef at Spago.
Stay after for market treats prepared by Kim Boyce. This event is free and open to the public.
