As farmers and farm workers, we think about food – a lot. When to plant a crop, when to tend to it, when to harvest, how to pack it, where it’s going, how much people are willing to pay for it, how much ends up going to the farm, what to plant the next season… the list of questions goes on. Something that we also spend time thinking about is who gets to eat the food we grow and how it gets to their table (or not). Food waste is one concern, but food access in general is something that isn’t always at the center of the conversation.
The statistics are always in flux, but NPR published an article about food insecurity in the U.S. roughly one year ago portraying the strain that the pandemic has put on resource access. The numbers are shocking but not surprising; before 2020, rates of food insecurity across all demographics were high, but nearly a year into the pandemic, the divide had deepened even more widely, making it abundantly clear how race, age, income level, and other indicators of socioeconomic status affect our ability to access basic resources. This interactive map from the USDA’s Economic Research Service shows this in a more visual way.
Farms play a significant role in shaping avenues for food production, distribution, and access. Community supported agriculture (CSAs!), SNAP & HIP, and mobile farmers markets are some of the many ways that we can create stronger relationships within our food systems; when we support local farms and farm workers, we invest in our community and those who are a part of it.
THINKING INSIDE THE BOX
Add in or swap out these items when customizing your share:
- Italian eggplant
- Slicing cucumbers
- Shallots – new!
- Sweet corn
- Corked jalapeño peppers – new!
- Shishito peppers
- Chioggia, gold + red beets, mixed – new!
- Watermelon
- Cantaloupe
- Cauliflower
- Tomatoes
- Heirloom tomatoes
- Oregano
- Cherry tomatoes – available as an extra only!
Fruit of the week: NECTARINES!
Bread of the week: Sprouted Rye
Mushrooms of the week: Shiitake
*All items listed above are available for swapping as well as purchasing as extras unless noted otherwise*
RECIPES OF THE WEEK
Southern tomato pie with fried onions
Spicy chile crisp (hands-down the best condiment to put on… everything)
