Can you recommend a Chicago-area CSA

February 13, 2008 12:31 PM

Do you belong to a CSA that has deliveries/pick-up locations in Chicago? In Lakeview, specifically? Which do you recommend? Which would you avoid?

I've checked the offerings for my zip code at local harvest and am now looking for feedback from anyone who has belonged to any CSA which serves Chicago. We will probably split the share between two households (four adults and one infant). Are we better off going with a half-share for four adults? Two of us are good cooks, and another of us really likes to cook, but we do all work and don't want there to be much waste.

We're interested particularly in King's Hill Farm, Mike and Clare's farm and Fat Blossom Farm. I have written them for more information about what to expect in the boxes, but am looking for personal experiences with any of the farms to help us make our decision. Both households have a car, but all four adults work, so we absolutely cannot drive to the suburbs or the farm to get the weekly box. Weekday pick-ups from any of the green city markets would be okay.

If it goes well, we might move up to one of the ones that offers eggs, dairy and grass-fed meat.

posted by crush-onastick to Food & Drink (9 answers total)

I split a 12-week share from Angelic Organics with another couple last year. I was a little disappointed with the yield of a few things (carrots, tomatoes, and cukes specifically); but this was partly a combination of the heavy rains last summer and partly a function of when the 12 weeks in question fell. (They also offer a 20-week share, which starts eight weeks earlier and gives you more of the early-season crops.) What there was, though, was delicious.

In terms of amount of food, the full share for four adults was about right. I did end up having to plan my meals somewhat around what was in the box each week, but if we'd been splitting a half-share, we probably would have ended up with ridiculously small amounts of everything. If you're of the improvisational school of cooking (i.e., open the fridge and see what you can dream up with the contents), and cook extra veggies as a side dish from time to time, then you'll be fine.
posted by Johnny Assay at 12:51 PM on February 13, 2008 [1 favorite]

Oh, and they do have a Lakeview drop site: 800 W. Buckingham.
posted by Johnny Assay at 12:52 PM on February 13, 2008

Angelic Organics. The farm is near Beloit, WI, but they have drop sites all over Chicago. The farm is amazing, and one of the earliest CSAs. Check out the documentary on the development of the farm; it is great.
posted by sulaine at 12:54 PM on February 13, 2008

Have you ruled out Angelic Organics? That's the one I have the most experience with. I started with them maybe five years ago -- or six? Overall very pleased, though there's an almost cultish aspect to it that I can't deny.

I (a single guy who loves to cook) split the box with a family of three (two adults, one teen; they also love to cook.)

You can ask me more about it if you have questions, but since you didn't mention Angelic I won't run on and on about it.

The other thing I would say is to check out Farm Girl Organics, which started up last year I believe. I met the young women who run it over the summer at the farmers markets and they're great. You might want to shoot them an email and see if they can send you info.

On preview: OK, I'm not the only Angelic person here, apparently. Haha.
posted by veggieboy at 12:57 PM on February 13, 2008

I don't have a CSA suggestion but while researching mine (also on local harvest) I came across Eat Wild, which if you're a carnivore looking to support local and sensible meats will probably be of interest.
posted by phearlez at 1:18 PM on February 13, 2008

This is a little bit different than you're looking for, but is another option: Newleaf Natural Grocery is on the north side (1261 W. Loyola). They actually do a year-round box of organic groceries, have three different sizes of boxes (plus two sizes of fruit only and one size of veggie only), and there's no contract. So if you're going to be on vacation one week, you just don't order the box for that week.

They're right by the Loyola red line stop, and have pick-up days on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Not so sure about buses to get there. They also now deliver for an extra $5 a box. The grocery store will send you an email each Friday listing what's in that week's box (and some recipes to try).

Because it's an organic grocery store (albeit small), if you pick up your own box, you can do a little grocery shopping at the same time. For the boxes, they do their best to get local food, but because it's year-round, during the winter you're getting lots of greens from hothouses and the fruit from California and the like (though still organic!).

I got their smallest box about every week last summer and enjoyed it - a nice variety of stuff. Once I'm done with school, I plan to start up again. Very nice people. (And no, I don't work for them.)
posted by bibbit at 1:57 PM on February 13, 2008

Best answer: I use Fresh Picks and am very happy with the quality of the produce and the variety of stuff available. They deliver to my door every other week (there is also an option for weekly delivery).
posted by smich at 2:35 PM on February 13, 2008

When I lived in the Chicago area, I used King's Hill Farm and was very happy with the produce I received. Unfortunately as with all of the CSAs, the non-summer produce was not local and was packed at Goodness Greenness, but the pricing was still decent and a lot better than Whole Foods. They have a special order option where you can opt to just get the stuff you want. I was pretty happy with the select and quality of the produce. But the in-season part of the deal means that when bok choy is in season, you're going to get bok choy every week.
posted by kat at 3:11 PM on February 13, 2008

Haven't tried King's Hill but I'd recommend Genesis Growers. They offer delivery/pickup in Chicago - so far very happy.
posted by cirrusblue at 2:22 AM on April 4, 2008