Inland Empire CSA
Inland Empire California
Community Supported Agriculture
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| Entire Contents Copyright 2007-2010 Inland Empire CSA All rights reserved PO Box 2208, Temecula, CA 92593 |
LOCALLY GROWN ORGANIC FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
Current Pick Up Locations
De Luz Farms & Nursery
Saturday 9-11
Sage Mountain Farm
Saturday 8-11
L&M Fertilizer - Temecula
Saturday 8:30 - 12:30
Temecula Farmer's Market
Saturday 8-12:30
Riverside Farmer's Market
Saturday 9-1
Palm Springs Farmer's Market
Saturday 8-12 (seasonal)
Little Italy Farmer's Market
(San Diego)
Saturday 9-1
Claremont Farmer's Market
Sunday 9-1
Hillcrest Farmer's Market
(San Diego)
Sunday 9-1
La Quinta Farmer's Market
Sunday 8-12 (seasonal)
La Jolla Farmer's Market
Sunday 9-12
Loma Linda
Sunday 8-10:30
Menifee
Sunday 8-9:30
Blue Jay/ Lake Arrowhead
Sunday 11-2
Rancho Santa Fe Farmer's Market
Sunday 9-1
Old Town Coffee
La Quinta
Monday 3-5:30
Harvest Health Palm Desert
Monday 3-5:30 (year round)
Palm Springs
Monday 4-8 (year round)
Ranch CA RV Resort
(Aguanga)
Monday 2-5
Hemet
Monday 4-6
Delaney's Market - Temecula
Tuesday 3-6
Thursday 3-6
Ponte Winery - Temecula
Tuesday 2-4
Great Harvest Bread - Temecula
Tuesday 3-6
Palm Desert Farmer's Market
Wednesday 8-12 (seasonal)
The Pearl
Point Loma
Wednesday 4-7
Qualcomm
Wednesday
Sea Rocket Bistro
(San Diego)
Wednesday 4-9
Starlite Restaurant
Mission Hills - San Diego
Wednesday 4-7
Eclectic Books
Murrieta
Thursday 2:30 - 7:30
Pizza Fusion - Temecula
Thursday 2-5
Callaway Winery - Temecula
Friday 2-5
Idyllwild
Friday 3:30-6
Anza
Friday 2-4
De Luz Farms & Nursery
Saturday 9-11
Sage Mountain Farm
Saturday 8-11
L&M Fertilizer - Temecula
Saturday 8:30 - 12:30
Temecula Farmer's Market
Saturday 8-12:30
Riverside Farmer's Market
Saturday 9-1
Palm Springs Farmer's Market
Saturday 8-12 (seasonal)
Little Italy Farmer's Market
(San Diego)
Saturday 9-1
Claremont Farmer's Market
Sunday 9-1
Hillcrest Farmer's Market
(San Diego)
Sunday 9-1
La Quinta Farmer's Market
Sunday 8-12 (seasonal)
La Jolla Farmer's Market
Sunday 9-12
Loma Linda
Sunday 8-10:30
Menifee
Sunday 8-9:30
Blue Jay/ Lake Arrowhead
Sunday 11-2
Rancho Santa Fe Farmer's Market
Sunday 9-1
Old Town Coffee
La Quinta
Monday 3-5:30
Harvest Health Palm Desert
Monday 3-5:30 (year round)
Palm Springs
Monday 4-8 (year round)
Ranch CA RV Resort
(Aguanga)
Monday 2-5
Hemet
Monday 4-6
Delaney's Market - Temecula
Tuesday 3-6
Thursday 3-6
Ponte Winery - Temecula
Tuesday 2-4
Great Harvest Bread - Temecula
Tuesday 3-6
Palm Desert Farmer's Market
Wednesday 8-12 (seasonal)
The Pearl
Point Loma
Wednesday 4-7
Qualcomm
Wednesday
Sea Rocket Bistro
(San Diego)
Wednesday 4-9
Starlite Restaurant
Mission Hills - San Diego
Wednesday 4-7
Eclectic Books
Murrieta
Thursday 2:30 - 7:30
Pizza Fusion - Temecula
Thursday 2-5
Callaway Winery - Temecula
Friday 2-5
Idyllwild
Friday 3:30-6
Anza
Friday 2-4
CSAs, short for Community Supported Agriculture, are getting a lot of
attention these days. It seems like every day we see or hear someone
touting their product as "green” or in some way, helping to save the planet.
What is a CSA and can it be useful for you?
CSAs are not a new idea. They trace their origins to Japan, where a group of
people, seeing that the small family farms were rapidly disappearing, decided
to do something. The community would purchase the harvest in advance. By
getting paid up front, the farmer received revenue he or she would not
normally get until after the harvest. This ensured the farmer could survive
even in the lean or bad years when most small farmers go out of business.
The community was rewarded in the bountiful years as well, as they are
entitled to the additional harvest. This system is a win/win for the farmer
who can concentrate on farming and not marketing his crop, and for the
community that is able to consistently acquire locally fresh grown food.
However, the greatest benefit came from the survival of small family farms
that may have disappeared without this arrangement.
CSAs are the right thing to do for the planet.
The foods they produce are “locally” grown; this will reduce your carbon
footprint. Just check out the labels in the grocery stores these days; China,
Honduras, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand and the list goes on.
Besides, food that has not traveled thousands of miles and been kept in
refrigeration for weeks is more nutritious and just tastes better.
There are of course limitations of the CSAs. Even in California where most
CSAs operate year round, there are limitations on what can be grown. Some
California CSAs have been able to extend growing seasons using
greenhouses and shade houses. Beware of anyone offering produce that is
clearly out of season and saying it is locally grown.
As consumers we have become accustomed to going to a grocery store and
purchasing which ever fruits and vegetables we want, at any time of the
year. Joining a CSA may encourage you to adjust some of your eating habits.
Of course you’ll get traditional produce like lettuce, onions, carrots,
cucumbers, oranges, avocados and etc. You may also get produce you may
have never eaten before, greens like arugula, kale or Swiss chard or
heirloom tomatoes that are strange looking but taste magnificent. Fruits like
loquats, jujubes and feijoas. Just remember they will only be available when
they are in season. What you will not get is a watermelon in January or
winter greens in July. Some CSAs grow only row crops; tomatoes, greens,
squash and etc. Some CSAs grow only tree crops; avocados, citrus and stone
fruit (peaches, plums, etc.).
Occasionally you may get two or more farms that join together to form a CSA
that offers more variety.
Other local buying groups are often available and sometimes offer a greater
variety of produce. These may be a better alternative for people that want
traditional produce all year round. But be aware that just because the group
is local, it does not mean the produce is. Remember, if it is out of season in
the area you live, it most likely won’t be grown there. Also,,if the produce you
purchase is said to be Organic, it is sometimes difficult to ensure that it is
unless you know the farm that it comes from.
As you can see CSAs are unique in that the members are partners with the
farmers. Their support in paying in advance assists the small farmer in
planning for the future.
About the Inland Empire CSA:
Our CSA is made up of two Certified Organic farms, Sage Mountain Farm in
Aguanga, California and De Luz Farms and Nursery in Temecula, California.
Each farm has its own unique growing climate. Sage Mountain Farm is well
known in the inland empire for their wonderful vegetables grown with pure
well water. De Luz farms and Nursery located in the hills above Temecula has
been growing avocados, citrus and other subtropical fruits for many years.
This arrangement allows our CSA to offer a wider variety of fruits and
vegetables than many other CSAs.
attention these days. It seems like every day we see or hear someone
touting their product as "green” or in some way, helping to save the planet.
What is a CSA and can it be useful for you?
CSAs are not a new idea. They trace their origins to Japan, where a group of
people, seeing that the small family farms were rapidly disappearing, decided
to do something. The community would purchase the harvest in advance. By
getting paid up front, the farmer received revenue he or she would not
normally get until after the harvest. This ensured the farmer could survive
even in the lean or bad years when most small farmers go out of business.
The community was rewarded in the bountiful years as well, as they are
entitled to the additional harvest. This system is a win/win for the farmer
who can concentrate on farming and not marketing his crop, and for the
community that is able to consistently acquire locally fresh grown food.
However, the greatest benefit came from the survival of small family farms
that may have disappeared without this arrangement.
CSAs are the right thing to do for the planet.
The foods they produce are “locally” grown; this will reduce your carbon
footprint. Just check out the labels in the grocery stores these days; China,
Honduras, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand and the list goes on.
Besides, food that has not traveled thousands of miles and been kept in
refrigeration for weeks is more nutritious and just tastes better.
There are of course limitations of the CSAs. Even in California where most
CSAs operate year round, there are limitations on what can be grown. Some
California CSAs have been able to extend growing seasons using
greenhouses and shade houses. Beware of anyone offering produce that is
clearly out of season and saying it is locally grown.
As consumers we have become accustomed to going to a grocery store and
purchasing which ever fruits and vegetables we want, at any time of the
year. Joining a CSA may encourage you to adjust some of your eating habits.
Of course you’ll get traditional produce like lettuce, onions, carrots,
cucumbers, oranges, avocados and etc. You may also get produce you may
have never eaten before, greens like arugula, kale or Swiss chard or
heirloom tomatoes that are strange looking but taste magnificent. Fruits like
loquats, jujubes and feijoas. Just remember they will only be available when
they are in season. What you will not get is a watermelon in January or
winter greens in July. Some CSAs grow only row crops; tomatoes, greens,
squash and etc. Some CSAs grow only tree crops; avocados, citrus and stone
fruit (peaches, plums, etc.).
Occasionally you may get two or more farms that join together to form a CSA
that offers more variety.
Other local buying groups are often available and sometimes offer a greater
variety of produce. These may be a better alternative for people that want
traditional produce all year round. But be aware that just because the group
is local, it does not mean the produce is. Remember, if it is out of season in
the area you live, it most likely won’t be grown there. Also,,if the produce you
purchase is said to be Organic, it is sometimes difficult to ensure that it is
unless you know the farm that it comes from.
As you can see CSAs are unique in that the members are partners with the
farmers. Their support in paying in advance assists the small farmer in
planning for the future.
About the Inland Empire CSA:
Our CSA is made up of two Certified Organic farms, Sage Mountain Farm in
Aguanga, California and De Luz Farms and Nursery in Temecula, California.
Each farm has its own unique growing climate. Sage Mountain Farm is well
known in the inland empire for their wonderful vegetables grown with pure
well water. De Luz farms and Nursery located in the hills above Temecula has
been growing avocados, citrus and other subtropical fruits for many years.
This arrangement allows our CSA to offer a wider variety of fruits and
vegetables than many other CSAs.
Why Organic?
The term organic refers not to the food itself,
but to how it is produced. Organic foods are
grown without the use of synthetic pesticides
and fertilizers. In California, organic produce is
certified in accordance with the California
Certified Foods Act of 1990.
Why choose organically grown foods? Many studies have
proven that organically grown foods are more nutritious, and
they just taste better. Organic farming methods help to
protect the environment in which we live.
The term organic refers not to the food itself,
but to how it is produced. Organic foods are
grown without the use of synthetic pesticides
and fertilizers. In California, organic produce is
certified in accordance with the California
Certified Foods Act of 1990.
Why choose organically grown foods? Many studies have
proven that organically grown foods are more nutritious, and
they just taste better. Organic farming methods help to
protect the environment in which we live.
