Fairshares
Offers Local, Healthy, Sustainable Food
By Jamie Choler and Sara Hale
Did anyone miss the New Oxford American Dictionary's chosen
word for 2007? "Locavore," meaning one who seeks
out local food, is quite the buzz word today, and anyone
interested in joining the trend, check out the new non-profit
Fair Shares. This organization is dedicated to getting
local, healthy, sustainable food into the hands of more
St. Louisans, regardless of income.
Sisters Jamie Choler and Sara Hale are hoping to introduce
the concept to those who aren't already familiar with
it, or to help out those in the know who have trouble
making it to the Farmers' Markets. They've put together
a subscription-based combined CSA. Community Supported
Agriculture is a partnership between consumers interested
in safe, fresh, local foods and farmers interested in
a stable market for their products. Consumers pledge to
support the farms as co-producers, sharing in the bounty
and the risks of farming, including poor harvests due
to pests or weather conditions.
Most CSAs include one farmer who provides produce for
a limited season--about 26 weeks. Fair Shares will bring
together the products of several local farmers, bakers,
coffee roasters, etc. for 47 weekly shares of meat and
produce, plus a rotation of eggs, cheese, bread, pasta,
coffee, honey, peanut butter, preserves and more.
The first CSAs began in Japan in the mid 1960s. Called
“teikei” or cooperative, the more philosophical
translation means “food with the farmer’s
face on it.” This idea is important in building
trust and loyalty between farmers and consumers, so Fair
Shares members will receive bios on all the participating
producers, and will know where and by whom every item
in their weekly boxes was produced.
Eating seasonally means enjoying more healthful, nutritious
and delicious foods. It also means understanding the food
that grows in your climate, and how to prepare it. Fair
Shares, will include menu ideas, recipes, and storage
and preparation tips to help members make the most of
their bounty.
Fair Shares will work with other businesses and organizations
to raise money for subsidized, scholarship and work
shares so the less fortunate may eat healthier food
than the cheaper industrial options so readily available.
Weekly pickups will take place at the centrally-located
distribution site near I-44 and Kingshighway, or at
pickup sites based on member population. The first delivery
is scheduled for April 23.
Membership is limited to 225. Read more and learn how
to join at www.fairshares.org.
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