This week I did the preparation, run, drop, and debrief for the CSA. At first, I did not think this would take more than a few hours. How difficult could it be to load and deliver some boxes? Over the past few days, I have learned that this operation is a lot more difficult, even for a CSA that serves 38 people. The work it takes to make this kind of procedure run smoothly and successfully gave me a whole new appreciation for how our food goes from the farm to our plates.
One of the most shocking parts of this process was how much time it took to deliver the food. Yesterday, Robbie and I loaded the truck around 1:30, left Christy's house by 2:00, and even though the drop ran smoothly, we did not make it back until 9:30. It seems to me that there has to be a better way to deliver food efficiently and sustainably. I was discussing this with Christy today, but we could not think of a solution. There are so many factors to consider. You have to allow time for traffic and give the customers enough time to pick up their boxes without feeling rushed. There also is the matter of picking up and dropping off the rented refrigerated truck. Hopefully, if Know Your Farms owns its own truck the time will be cut down a bit, but it there will still be five or six hours devoted to deliveries.
Going through this drop gave me a real appreciation for the time and energy it takes to distribute local food. It has also made me start thinking about what we consider "local" - a walk? a car drive? How many miles? Although I know that for most individuals, the food from the CSA box is the most local option available, even this operation requires a lot of gas to pick up food and distribute the boxes. The fact is that this is the most local option available because our country is not designed around local food. If we lived in a "local food friendly" nation, there would be space in cities for urban farms, rooftop gardens, and ordinances that allowed individuals to keep chickens. Unfortunately, we live in a nation where most of our food comes from thousands of miles away and buying locally means filling up a 22 foot refrigerated truck twice in two days in order to pick up food, keep the food fresh, and make deliveries.
I'm not saying that the CSA is not local. This CSA is the best option we have. It makes a real difference compared to the millions of miles that food travels to get to a grocery store. However, I think it is sad that our nation's concern for local food is so low that this is the best option we have. I believe that we are capable of doing more and making our food even more local. We have the power to grow food on our own blocks, in our own backyards, and right on the roofs of the Charlotte skyline. It is unrealistic to believe that tomorrow, everyone in Charlotte will begin shopping at local stores, harvesting their own gardens, or trading eggs for tomatoes with neighbors. Change sometimes happens slowly, and the CSA program is one step towards changing Charlotte. This single CSA program will not change the world, but it does plant the seed for individuals to start thinking about the idea of "local" and to consider their habits. It may inspire individuals in Charlotte to grow their own food or start supporting local businesses in the city. It may encourage individuals to begin to make changes, and as they change the overall must adjust. These small efforts contribute to the overall push that will change the way our food system operates by making room for slow food.
One of the most shocking parts of this process was how much time it took to deliver the food. Yesterday, Robbie and I loaded the truck around 1:30, left Christy's house by 2:00, and even though the drop ran smoothly, we did not make it back until 9:30. It seems to me that there has to be a better way to deliver food efficiently and sustainably. I was discussing this with Christy today, but we could not think of a solution. There are so many factors to consider. You have to allow time for traffic and give the customers enough time to pick up their boxes without feeling rushed. There also is the matter of picking up and dropping off the rented refrigerated truck. Hopefully, if Know Your Farms owns its own truck the time will be cut down a bit, but it there will still be five or six hours devoted to deliveries.
Going through this drop gave me a real appreciation for the time and energy it takes to distribute local food. It has also made me start thinking about what we consider "local" - a walk? a car drive? How many miles? Although I know that for most individuals, the food from the CSA box is the most local option available, even this operation requires a lot of gas to pick up food and distribute the boxes. The fact is that this is the most local option available because our country is not designed around local food. If we lived in a "local food friendly" nation, there would be space in cities for urban farms, rooftop gardens, and ordinances that allowed individuals to keep chickens. Unfortunately, we live in a nation where most of our food comes from thousands of miles away and buying locally means filling up a 22 foot refrigerated truck twice in two days in order to pick up food, keep the food fresh, and make deliveries.
I'm not saying that the CSA is not local. This CSA is the best option we have. It makes a real difference compared to the millions of miles that food travels to get to a grocery store. However, I think it is sad that our nation's concern for local food is so low that this is the best option we have. I believe that we are capable of doing more and making our food even more local. We have the power to grow food on our own blocks, in our own backyards, and right on the roofs of the Charlotte skyline. It is unrealistic to believe that tomorrow, everyone in Charlotte will begin shopping at local stores, harvesting their own gardens, or trading eggs for tomatoes with neighbors. Change sometimes happens slowly, and the CSA program is one step towards changing Charlotte. This single CSA program will not change the world, but it does plant the seed for individuals to start thinking about the idea of "local" and to consider their habits. It may inspire individuals in Charlotte to grow their own food or start supporting local businesses in the city. It may encourage individuals to begin to make changes, and as they change the overall must adjust. These small efforts contribute to the overall push that will change the way our food system operates by making room for slow food.
KYF!
Plaza Midwood drop behind the Common Market
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