Veggies and more at your door

On April 21, as many as 20 CSA vendors will convene outdoors in the parking lot of Seward Co-op, 2111 E. Franklin Ave., to preview their coming crops — and that doesn’t just mean vegetables — for those interested in getting in on a cut of the produce.

Seward resident and co-op Produce Manager Travis Lusk, who organized the fair, said CSA is a way for individuals — and the co-op itself — to support the local economy. “You share in the success or failure of the farm,” he said, adding that the consistent support provides vendors a steady income.

That success or failure depends largely on the weather, and so does the yield. A weekly CSA share can be “quite a variety of things,” said Lusk, or it can be limited to what is growing or ready to harvest.

The variety of vendors expected at the fair should broaden the field, so to speak. Shares are mostly vegetables, said Lusk, but vendors offer other fare: baked breads, honey, and — new this year — even meat and fresh flowers.

Asked why the co-op would want to support an effort that “cuts out the middle man,” Lusk said Seward Co-op does so whole-heartedly. “It’s more of a commitment to growers than a monetary concern,” he said. The co-op even acts as a drop site for seven CSA vendors.

To learn more about CSA or the April 21 fair, call the co-op at 612-338-2465, visit their website at www.seward.coop, or come to the fair!

Jeremy Stratton

Jeremy Stratton (jeremy@strattoncreative.com) is a journalist living in Minneapolis. His experience includes writing, reporting, editing, photography and blogging.