Keep Hope Alive

Today's New York Times Dining & Wine section sounds the death knell for the Bronx Terminal Market, once a thriving hub of trade in locally-grown produce. Squeezed out of the wholesale market by cheaper, more plentiful imports and lower transportation costs, and too big to profitably tour the Greenmarket circuit, many of the region's medium- to large-scale farmers are on the out-and-out. And discontent has been simmering in the food world over the declining quality and ethics of the Greenmarket system. What's a New Yorker who cares about fresh food and supporting local farmers to do?

Well, one option is Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA. Increasingly, farmers across New York are turning to locally-organized groups of New York City residents to supply them with a market for their goods. By buying a share of a farm's annual harvest, city residents can ensure a weekly supply of farm-fresh vegetables for themselves and a reliable source of income for threatened farms. That's a win-win if Gothamist ever saw one.

The non-profit organization Just Food is leading the charge for CSA in New York, and has a list of already-active community produce clubs available on its website.

Check out the U.S. Department of Agriculture's CSA website for more information on eating local.