Wenninghoff CSA–Join Now!!!!

Guest blog by Molly Hofker, for Wenninghoff Farm.

Last year, we participated in a local CSA with Wenninghoff Farm.  It was a wonderful experience, and we blogged about it all summer.  We received over 30,000 hits for these blogs alone!  Well–spring is here, and we are joining again this year.  We thought you might be interested too, so are sharing their information.

Although spring hasn’t yet sprung here in the heartland, it’s still the time of year when our appetites begin craving lighter fare. We’re ready to swap out heartier meals that stick to your ribs with quick and easy recipes that contain a simple ingredient list and bright flavors. Of course you don’t want to sacrifice the taste of those comforting, albeit heavier, winter dinners. That’s where farm fresh produce comes to the rescue.

Fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables are the staples of spring and summertime dishes. And while it’s admittedly difficult to start thinking about the upcoming seasons when Mother Nature hasn’t caught up to the calendar, there are still lots of reasons to join a CSA today for the promise of food fresh from the field to your table in just a few short months.

We’re all familiar with the concept of visiting farmers’ markets to obtain this locally grown, fresh produce that enhances our meals during the spring and summer months, but what’s so special about a CSA? CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a program that lets you purchase “shares” of a harvest directly from a farm in exchange for a weekly delivery of fruits, vegetables, and other farm products like eggs, cheese, herbs, honey and more.

Here are the top 5 reasons many opt for a CSA membership:

1. Learn about new food and methods of cooking – A CSA share is the gift that keeps on giving – you never know what’s going to be in your bag each week until you open it. It often includes new-to-you items you wouldn’t typically purchase, encouraging you to get creative in the kitchen and discover new favorite recipes.
2. Save time – Weekly produce deliveries to a location near your home or workplace let you cut down on frequent grocery store trips normally reserved for stocking up on fresh fruit and veggies that you would still have to pick out and bag yourself.
3. Support the local economy – You’re not only stimulating the local food system, you’re connecting with the farmer who grows your food. Plus, we offer the opportunity for farm visits where you can learn about the true source of your food and see a farm from the famer’s perspective.
4. Better tasting and more nutritious food – Local produce picked at the peak of freshness hasn’t traveled thousands of miles before it reaches your plate, nor has it been treated with the preservatives necessary to mass-distribute and ship it around the world. The result is much more flavorful, vitamin-packed, and nutrient-dense food.
5. Save money – Homegrown produce is much more affordable than what you’ll find in the store. And since you pre-pay for your produce, you feel compelled to use it. You’ll spend less on eating out when you stay home to cook what’s already in your veggie drawer.

How Wenninghoff’s CSA Works:

For $200, you’ll receive a weekly bag of seasonal produce for two from June 26 to October 27, delivered to one of our convenient pickup locations in the Omaha community. We offer several options to enhance this basic share with more produce and other farm products. Visit our web site for more details about those add-on options and a list of pickup locations near you: www.wenninghoff.com/csa

How to Sign Up:

Download the 2013 CSA Membership Form, print, complete with your information and payment, and mail to: Amy Wenninghoff | 6707 Wenninghoff Rd | Omaha, NE  68122.

As a token of our gratitude for joining early, CSA members who pay by Monday, April 15 will receive $20 off items from our greenhouse between April 20 and May 20. Nothing says farewell to winter and welcomes in spring like a colorful hanging basket of cheerful, blooming flowers!