What if I miss having choice in my vegetables?

The choice that exists in the produce aisles of conventional grocery stores is the product of a centralized, global food system. As a CSA member, you participate in a local food system. This focus requires us to shift from a recipe-based cooking style to one based on available ingredients. We re-learn what it means to eat according to the seasons. We also learn what can be grown in our desert environment. While you may not necessarily get produce that you would normally buy at the store, you do end up eating a much more diverse selection of vegetables than you otherwise would. Here are a few suggestions that may help:

• Continue to cook your favorite dishes by just changing the vegetables according to the season. Your favorite pasta dish may highlight tomatoes, winter squash, leafy greens or broccoli, depending on the time of the year.
• Make a list of what you really miss and can’t live without. You can always supplement your share with these store-bought favorites.
• Use the CSA website, internet recipe sites or favorite cookbooks to learn new ways to use unfamiliar produce.