Yes, you can have kids and a CSA, too

We moms get a lot of surprises in our lives. Everything from "projectile launch" by a kid with stomach flu on Christmas morning to trying to identify what the dog just ate from the scraps on the floor (a Christmas ornament, really?). Can we handle being ambushed by broccoli, too?

You bet! While the CSA, or community supported agriculture, box may hold a few new veggies for everyone, the fact is most fruits and veggies do have a certain season where they make their annual appearance. We've just lost track of it amidst the grapes from Chile in April and the tomatoes from Mexico in February. The seasonal guide from our book can help you plan ahead enough to give you some comfort factor — knowing things may vary a week or two depending on how soon spring is sprung each year.

Here is a basic list, not including many of the wonderful surprises a CSA can offer. Some surprises can be good! Look for the resources and links at the end of the list for further reading on CSAs!

Seasonal Calendar (not all items available in all areas! We don't see too much "local citrus" in the Midwest for sure!)

Spring (March through May)

In-Season Produce

Alliums: scallions, leeks, garlic scapes, chives

Cole crops: broccoli, cauliflower

Greens: cabbages, chard, kale, spinach

Herbs: borage, chervil, lovage

Lettuces: leaf lettuce, mâche, miner’s lettuce, spring mix

Root vegetables: beets, radishes, turnips

Others: artichokes, asparagus, mushrooms, peas and pea shoots, rhubarb, sorrel

Summer (June through August)

In-Season Produce

Alliums: garlic, onions

Beans: green beans, pole beans, field peas, lima beans

Berries: blackberries, blueberries, gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries

Cole crops: cabbages, collard greens, kohlrabi

Greens: amaranth, arugula, collards, mustard greens

Herbs: basil, cilantro, lemongrass, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley

Melons: cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon

Peppers: bell peppers, hot peppers

Root vegetables: potatoes

Squashes: summer squash (yellow, zucchini, pattypan, and so on)

Stone fruits: apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums

Others: corn, eggplant, fennel, figs, okra, tomatillos, tomatoes, cucumbers

Fall (September through November)

In-Season Produce

Cole crops: Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbages

Fruits: apples, grapes, pears, persimmons, pomegranates

Greens: kale, mustard greens, spinach

Herbs: rosemary, sage, savory, thyme

Nuts: chestnuts, hickory nuts, pecans, walnuts

Root vegetables: beets, carrots, horseradish, parsnips, sweet potatoes, rutabaga, turnips

Squashes: pumpkin, winter squash

Winter (December through February)

In-Season Produce

Though some farms may have greenhouses for production, with the exception of southern regions and areas with temperate climates, such as California, most growing seasons are over. In these warmer regions, the following are in season:

Fruit: grapefruits, lemons, limes, oranges

Others: avocados, pistachios

Resources and Links:
Types of CSAs, More Than Just Veggies
Five Good Reasons to Support Local Family Farms with a CSA
Five Foods I Only Tried by Eating Local
Why I am Changing CSAsAgriculture Policy and Food SafetyAgriculture Policy and Your Health
Recipes, Recipes, More Recipes

Here's the follow up from my presentation at the Local Food Expo:

First of all, THANKS to all the parents who voluntarily spent an hour with me at the Local Food Expo. I did see one guy nodding off, but I get that, I have a very soft voice. In fact, I used to read myself to sleep first while trying to get the kid down for a nap. Heh.

We had a lot of questions and great discussion. I did promise to post a few of the follow up links here, and I like to keep promises!

Beets, what to do with them
Beet salad dressing with spring greens
The beet risotto mentioned in the recipes handout
Plus, you can roast and chill beets, adding them to a smoothie (blueberries with cherry juice work great), dice into salads especially with citrus and fennel, add shredded to a red cabbage salad, and as I mentioned in our book, you can even put them (not pureed or stealthy) into brownies. You can also dye Easter eggs with them.

Flexible recipes
The handout I had was on making a risotto for all seasons. But other techniques can help you use nearly everything in the CSA box that is, uh, "cook-able." Roasting is a perfect technique. The book specifically calls out Roasted Asparagus and Green Beans. The key here is quick cooking items like tomatoes you can roast at higher heat and short times. For the more dense veggies like pumpkin or sweet potatoes, use a lower temperature and longer time so the veggie cooks through without burning on the outsides. A bit of olive oil, salt and pepper plus time and heat equals side dish. As a ballpark guide, this will give you a starting point. Just peek at the food, test, and customize for your oven's "quirks."

Higher Heat (375 or 400), Shorter Time (10-15 minutes):
Tomatoes, asparagus, green beans, summer squash, peppers, corn, okra

Lower Heat (350), Longer Time (20-60 minutes depending on how fine you chop them)
Potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, other root veggies, beets, kohlrabi, carrots

For the adventurous, outdoor-cooking types, grilling and, yes, smoking of vegetables is fun to try. Other veggies that are amazing smoked: tomatoes, corn, peppers, okra, even winter squashes.

Picky Kids and Adults
This series is the research that was the foundation for our picky eating chapter
And these guest posts on Dr. Greene are a fantastic resource for the control, color, texture, taste issues. Scroll down below the author photo and bio, please without thinking, "wow, she did not look like that in person." I was very tired and it showed.
We also talked a bit about using fun away from the table to get kids to eat better. And finally, if you are just stressed, stop by and read this interview I did with a feeding therapist on his 20-year career.

If I missed any questions or follow up, just ask me. You can reach me on our Facebook page, or by email at thecleanerplate [at] gmail [dot] com.