FoodConnect

With it almost time to make my resolutions for the year ahead once more (yikes!), I'm happy to report my efforts to waste less food are, for the most part, going well. There have been a few casualties–the odd bit of soggy rocket and petrified cabbage falling through the cracks–but overall we're doing well. (We did fleetingly consider having a 'whiteboard of shame', where those items dispatched to the compost bin were listed, alongside their current market value.) I've been buying less of the items which are likely to become casualties. Our little potted herb garden is growing great guns (despite those pesky caterpillars with a taste for oregano).

Earlier this year I read about the emergence of many subscription-based, locally-grown, seasonal produce suppliers, popping up across the globe. Wouldn't it be great, I thought, if there was a similar scheme here in Adelaide? Given the availability all year round of most fruit and vegetables (especially in supermarkets) it's easy to lose touch with what is actually in season. So when a friend posted on FB about how much she was enjoying her FoodConnect vegie box, I thought perhaps there is an opportunity to support a local enterprise.

FoodConnect Adelaide is a community supported agriculture (CSA) initiative committed to 'sustainably produced food, bought at a fair price, delivered to your area'. The minimum subscription period is one month (4 boxes), there are three different box sizes to choose from and there are now options for veg-only, fruit-only or mixed boxes. We've been subscribers for almost six months now and overall it's been a positive experience. Taking the decision making out of the weekly vegie shop has been interesting, and for those manic weeks where I've been too busy to shop, it's been a godsend. We're finding ways to use ingredients we wouldn't ordinarily buy and cooking to accommodate the new arrivals. There's only been one culinary disaster–a lacklustre eggplant dip. (If anyone can recommend a way to successfully deal with eggplants, I'm all ears.) Fresh beetroot has also been a revelation–and who knew it paired so wonderfully with chocolate?


(May contain traces of beetroot. Or, as Ol refers to them, 'beetroot heaven'. Recipe here.)

Thursdays come and I find myself eagerly anticipating the box and its freshly-picked cargo. There is a swap bowl at each collection point so if there is an item in your box which you're not so keen on (or you have an oversupply of), you can swap it for something else. The taste of fresh, locally-grown, seasonal organic produce is wonderful, and knowing that the farmers involved are receiving good returns for their produce is fantastic too. I'm looking forward to rediscovering what the seasons bring...