stores

Most of us grew up in an era where grocery stores were the default way for people to access food. Today, however, that is far from your only option.  The past few years have seen the rise of home delivery, meal kits, the resurgence of the farmer’s market, and the normalization of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs.

We are excited as today we begin sharing with our CSA members the good, healthy, fresh produce we have stored up for you at the farm.  We have so many tasty treats in store for our members, and just want to thank these CSA members for their support, without which, 5LF wouldn’t be able to exist.

The first few weeks of CSA farm shares are filled with things we've been storing up throughout the offseason; honey and maple syrup collected early this spring, dried herbs from last fall, and over-wintered leeks and greens that were planted last year.  

Participating in a CSA means being a part of a new more just food system, and it's a different way of getting and relating to your food.  Being in a CSA changes how you shop for food.

One thing you’ll learn from participating in a CSA program is to shop from your farm share first.  Once you see the bounty of beautiful crops in your farm share, you can then start to craft a weekly menu and additional shopping list that will compliment your farm share.

Taking advantage of the add-ons we offer, also helps round out your grocery list a bit more.  We have baked goods, like our hand-pies, and coffee from Song Roastery.  There are protein options, like Flat #12 Mushrooms, beef brisket from Southern Junction, and fish from Pacific Cloud Seafood.  You can even brighten up your week with a beautiful flower bouquet subscription from Nickel City Floral.  We hope to keep offering more grocery options for people to pick up with their 5LF CSA share as we go, so keep your eyes open.

You’ll also learn the importance of seasonal eating. The diverse make-up of your farm share will take you on a gastronomical journey through the WNY growing season, from spring greens and peas, to summer staples (think: garlic, tomatoes, peppers), to fall comfort foods like squash and sweet potatoes.  As you pick up each week, don't be surprised if you find something in your share that you've never tried before!

One of the best benefits of a CSA is the freshness and taste of our picked-that-day tomatoes, cantaloupes, or carrots that you just can't buy in a supermarket! The supermarket varieties that have been selected to look "perfect" often sacrifice flavor & nutrient value for productivity, longevity, and marketability.  Varieties on the farm like our honeynut squash, Caroline raspberries, and butterhead lettuce might not look like your typical supermarket fare, but have been specially selected to balance both flavor and fruitfulness. 

So again, we want to thank our CSA members, as well as our farmer’s market customers, for supporting 5LF as together we try to change the way people relate to and shop for their food, while creating a more just food system together.