Green Your Pantry With Fresh, Local Produce Delivered to Your Doorstep

For those who never quite make the weekly pilgrimage to one or the other of the seasonal Petaluma Farmer's Markets (kicking off Wednesday nights in the Theater District this week) and maybe only occasionally get time to scrutinize the locally grown info in the produce aisles at the grocery store, here's one great way to make a major commitment to the locavore's lifestyle - without leaving the house.

Just think of all the gas you'll save, not to mention shopping time and all of the unnecessary packaging wrapped up in most store-bought produce. Reducing the carbon footprint of fresh pantry staples makes as big an impact on the community as the world at large.

Take a look at the seasonal market produce of SoCo sustainable farmer, Elizabeth Reifers', pictured above.

"These vegetables are all harvested the morning of the delivery, therefore they are harvested for the most part within 4 hours of being packed in the box for delivery," says Petaluma resident, and eco-entrepreneur Elizabeth.

"In many cases, this is much fresher than even farmers market produce. And when the box is broken down into price value- it's nearly wholesale value.  I think that the one-on-one communication that the members get with me is a big asset. I get their emails on my cell phone and they can add fruit or egg add-ons up to 2 days before the delivery if they want it for that specific week," she adds.

Also, Elizabeth tells Sonoma Country Life that: "I do not know of other CSA's doing home delivery, which is an extra $2 a week.  I include a newsletter with the box each week that always has 2 recipes on it, that members can prepare from items normally found in a kitchen with their produce for the week."

Serving Sebastopol and Petaluma, Elizabeth's home delivered produce farmed in her own space at Three Ox Farm, southwest of Sebastopol. Three Ox is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) organization which is a farmer-consumer partnership where the consumer (you and I) pays a weekly subscription to the farmer and receives a weekly share of seasonal produce.

"Boxes typically have 7 to 11 different crops, depending on the harvests," says Elizabeth. Member subscriptions help support the farm and the farmer.

Those who don't have use for quite such a bounty on their doorstep can sign up for a half share and/or for an additional fee, weekly egg and fruit add-ons which are carefully sourced from reputable growers in the area.

Colorful Summer box options run for 12 weeks from July 2nd through September 17th, running $25 weekly for a full share, and $16 for a half share. Add on $2 per week for home delivery.

"As spring turns into summer, greens, herbs and root veggies will be bolstered by green beans, carrots, cucumbers, garlic, onions, summer squash, heirloom tomatoes, peppers and potatoes," says Elizabeth.

Autumn harvest boxes run from September 24th through November 19th. Spinach, pac choi, romanseco cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and parsnips. Peppers, eggplants and the heirloom tomatoes start to wind down the season, as you stock up your storage onions and winter squash for the end of the year.

For those of us who have a tendency to falter in the face of so many healthy green choices when perusing the farmer's markets, a doorstep delivery is a sure-fire way to work the true seasonal splendors into weekly meals.

For more info on ELizabeth's deliveries email her at 3oxfarmCSA@gmail.com or give her a call on 707 484 4720.

Comments

[food delivery philippines]

My mom love that kind of service delivering fresh vegetables. She is very favor with that kind of way of buying vegetables and other crops instead of buying in supermarket.

-krisha-

[Frances]

Hello Krisha in the Philippines, it is fantastic to reach readers all over the world and good to share stories of healthy eating habits! Keep up your Mom's good work.

[Anastasia Schuster]

So glad to see you feature Elizabeth here! I have been getting her boxes for two weeks now and LOVE them! You should see how wonderful and fresh the veggies are! I've had veggie boxes delivered from other organizations in the past, by far, Liz's has been the best.

Her prices are very reasonable and I really like the letter with recipes in each box!

And if nothing else, since Liz is a single mom trying to make it in this crazy economy, she is deserving of our support!

[Frances]

Hi Anastasia, my friend & our fellow Petaluma Gap member Barry put me in touch with Elizabeth and I, too, like you and he, was equally moved by her story of courage, hard work and creativity

[Donna Deal]

Liz's farm is wonderful, beautiful surroundings, fruits, veggies all grown with alot of love and hard work. But most of all very yummy. You can not taste better produce anywhere. I have also had the extreme pleasure of not only eating her veggies, but tasted some of her recipes cooked by Liz herself. Wow, it can't get any better than that. Thank you Liz!!!

[delivery service philippines]

This kind of service delivery is a brilliant idea its easy and no hassle,Keep up the good work.

missy