Good news from our CSA Manager, Emma: Due to all of the supportive emails asking for us to bring Home Delivery to their neighborhoods, we are happy to announce that Belen, Los Lunas, and Bosque Farms can begin opening their doors instead of going to the stores. Please let any friends or family you know in those communities that they can jump on the home delivery train.
Harvest Boxes For April 11-15th
Now, I am not sure if you are a food nerd like I am, but it is a really interesting time to be a foodie. With that said I don’t think that it is all that optimistic of a time either. Give me a few moments here and let me lay this out for you.
Selling food in this country is about one thing, volume. If you are making pennies on a product, then you have to sell tens of millions of those products to be in a good place. Grocery stores are some of the most cut-throat places you can find. Don’t let the soft exterior trick you.
Most recently I have noticed a migration of stores away from the Organic labels. Before the recession, touting shelves full of Organic products was becoming more and more common place. Now, it’s not as rare as a white buffalo sighting, but it is close. Stores are easing off the push on Organics to try and remain relevant in this overall price battle. Take a look for yourself if you ever get lost and wind up in a grocery store.
OK, so how do we play in this grocery game when our food is about so much more than just “volume”? How can we keep competitive?
I feel like it is a good time to reaffirm our mission to you. This farm broke ground with really one goal in mind, give our communities healthy/fresh food options. And I really want to stress the word options.
I do not believe that the whole world has to be Organic. That would not be realistic. But I also don’t want to live in a world/town where Conventional food is the only choice we have. I am a firm believer that we need to have a diverse marketplace, and then people can decide what food is best for them. Just as they do with religion and politics.
The farm was/is rooted in this idea of bringing healthy choices to our members. Eat a chimicanga from 7-Eleven if you want, but we will also make sure that fresh salads and fruit are available to you as well. The choice is up to you.
I highlight these options and choices because I do not want to see these disappear. I do not want to roll back the calendars and be back in time where Organic foods are hard to find. Over the last 15 years, I have seen prices on Organic foods drop while the quality has gotten so much better. This is a time when Organic producers need our support and to not be diluting our grocery store shelves down with more and more conventional produce.
So here is my promise and vow to you. Skarsgard Farms will not be jumping down the rabbit hole of cutting costs by bringing you conventional produce. I feel like that becomes a race to the bottom and a race that no one wins. So I want to stay out of that race. We started the CSA with 17 people in 2003. And I know we have grown over the years because of our beliefs about food not because our prices on food.
When you eat our food I want you to enjoy the flavors and know that you do not have to read labels. As the ole bumper sticker says, “Don’t Panic, It’s Organic.” That is what I want for you, just love your food and leave all the label reading and sourcing to us. We’ve got you covered.
Hot tip of the week…Steam your broccoli until it is cooked but still crisp. I think the French call it “to the tooth” or something like that. Anyway, squeeze fresh lemon juice on top of the florets. The citrus brings a fresh zing to the greens and I also think it brings out subtle nutty flavors.
Lastly, lots of delicious Thai Bananas available this next week.
Have a great weekend, Farmer Monte