• See this related Sun-Times article
Those who purchase a "share" of the summer harvest receive a box over a 20- week season running from mid-June to late-October. The Winter Share kicks in four additional boxes of storage vegetables, to be delivered every other week in November and December. A number of drop sites makes allows for fairly easy pickup from Rogers Park to the north to Hype Park to the south, as well as throughout the north and west suburbs.
A 24-week vegetable delivery is also available. Drop-off locations include DeKalb, Logan Square, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, Ottawa and the West Loop.
Medium-size weekly shares—a 3/4 bushel box meant to feed two adults—cost $220 for spring (April-May), $520 for summer (June-October) and $170 for fall (Nov.-Christmas); purchase all three and receive a discount. More than 10 pick-up points make them pretty accessible.
Your six-month subscription begins in May; choose to participate once or twice per month, and opt for a full ($110, feeds four to six) or half ($55, feeds two) share. A full share of poultry-only is also available for $55. A sample half-share includes one whole chicken, one pound of lamb loins, one pound lean ground beef, one beef roast and two steaks.
Its CSA season runs for 20 weeks, beginning in early June, with limited spring and fall shares sandwiching it. The $420-$90 share is a 1/2 bushel box (about a paper grocery bag full) that generally contains 8-10 items, including lettuce, fruit, at least one root, garlic/onion, an herb or two and something in the cabbage/broccoli/kale family. Pick-up locations include Evanston, Edgewater, Englewood, Lincoln Park and Lakeview; its farms are located in Marseilles, IL and in the New City neighborhood.
The Farm-City Market Basket consists of 10-15 varieties of veggies in quantities intended to feed two to four; during the spring, summer and fall, most of the produce comes from the co-op; during the off-season it supplements via a small-scale, family-owned, local wholesaler of conventional produce. The Sustainable Box contains the same amount of food, but all of the produce comes from the co-op in season; during the off-season it supplements via a certified organic, small-scale, family-owned wholesaler on the south side of Chicago.
This is an impressive one: King's Hill Farm offers sustainable boxes year-round (in the off-season, November-June, your box will contain primarily produce purchased from other growers); a 1/2 bushel is just $22 per week (plus a $60 membership fee); you pay weekly and deliveries can be skipped; and it's one of the few CSAs currently offering home delivery (check website for eligible neighborhoods). There are several pick-up locations throughout Chicago and the suburbs, including one in Woodlawn convenient for South Siders. The farm's large variety of produce includes beets, sweet corn, tomatoes and basil.
M's Organic prides itself on harvesting organic (not certified) produce and cruelty-free livestock. M's also makes Moon Herbal Care soaps, often using dried herbs from the farm and cans a large variety of soups, salsas and marinades. Its CSA is full for 2007, but for future reference: It specializes in greens (lettuces, Asian greens, arugula, etc.); the nine-week share costs $225, $252 if organic eggs are added.
The folks at Prospera Farm are willing to try to grow anything their customers have a hard time finding and because of this offer a large variety of produce. Who knew there were more than five varieties of pumpkin? The 2007 shares are full, but for future reference: a 15-week two-person share costs $435; add a dozen eggs for an additional $40.
It offers both vegetable and fruit shares (ranging from $155-$805, depending on the season): A typical summer veggie share includes broccoli, carrots, zucchini, garlic, salad Mix, swiss chard, basil and green beans; a fruit share might include one quart of sweet cherries, one pint of blueberries, one quart of peaches and one pint of apricots. Pick-up sites include Barrington, Glenview, Grayslake, Glen Ellyn, Clarendon Hills, Oak Park and the West Loop. Neat plus: it offers $165 flower shares to keep your home full of summer stems.
Since 1994 Scotch Hill Farm has grown more than 100 varieties of vegetables on its pesticide- and chemical-free farm. The farm is run by the family, along with the help of a few workers and student interns. Subscribers sign up for 20 weeks of vegetables and herbs for $25.50 per week; add on a 10-week flower share and receive 10 lovely bouquets for an additional $80. Pick-up locations are in Lincoln Square, Logan Square and Oak Park.
Full shares, priced at $485, come in 3/4 bushel boxes and are suitable for two veggie enthusiasts or a family of two adults and two children. Partial shares come in half bushel boxes and cost $385. Pick-up locations include Austin/Addison, Belmont/Ashland, Montrose/Pulaski, Chicago/Damen, Lincoln Park-North/Clark, 19th/ Halsted, Northbrook, Elgin and Evanston.
