My First CSA: Frozen Meat Pickup with a Craft Beer Chaser

Pioneering Illinois Meat CSA Does Dropoffs at Chicago-Area Breweries

Photo by Bob Benenson

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has been part of the fabric of local food ecosystems for years. Under CSA, consumers contract directly with individual farms to purchase their local food — which is pretty much the definition of the slogan "know your farmer, know your food."

The heyday of CSA was around the turn of the 21st century, before the 4x growth in the number of farmers markets. For many engaged consumers at that time, CSA was the only way to ensure that they could enjoy farm-fresh, healthy, nutritious, delicious, locally produced food.

The massive expansion in the farmer market sector and other retail options for local food severely challenged CSA farms, but a substantial number survived. Because of my easy access to a number of Chicago farmers markets, I had never joined a CSA before, and this year I decided to correct that (given that Local Food Forum does cover CSAs).

I am now subscribed to the produce CSA at Just Roots urban farm, located in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, and the meat CSA at Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm in Ottawa, Illinois, located about 80 miles southwest from where we live in Chicago.

While Just Roots program doesn't kick in until May when the local growing season begins in earnest, I had my first pickup of lots of frozen meat from Cedar Valley on Monday (April 14).

I have known Cedar Valley owners Jody Osmund and Beth Vercolio-Osmund for many years, and have sampled the excellence of their products (for several years, they vended at Chicago's Logan Square Farmers Market to supplement their CSA). More importantly, they are pioneers: Theirs was the first meat CSA in Illinois when they launched it in 2007.

It is only a bonus that Cedar Valley does all of its CSA dropoffs at brewpubs in the city and its suburbs. Mine was at Begyle Brewing, the closest dropoff to where we live and a place where I have my own history.

In 2012, I first met Begyle's then-very young founders at their then-very small brewery, about which I wrote one of the first stories. Located in an area known as Malt Row because of its concentration of adult beverage makers — and right across the street from Dovetail Brewery, a leading producer of German-style beers — it is a place I always enjoy re-visiting.

And yes, I had a couple of their beers while catching up with Jody Osmund about his recent trip to Washington, D.C. as part of a farmer fly-in.

Because the dropoffs are monthly, I got the large CSA option, which as you can see in the above photo is a lot of meat. It includes a pork shoulder steak, two pork shoulder roasts, pork chops, bacon, a beef skirt steak, beef stew meat, about 12 pounds of chicken, ground beef, and two dozen eggs.

We have until May 12 to get through it before our next pickup, and I think it's a safe bet that we do. I'm sure I'll have some photos (with serving suggestions) to follow.

To learn more about Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm and its CSA packages, click the button below.

VISIT CEDAR VALLEY'S WEBSITE

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