Watermelon Radish Salad

How wonderful it is to get a package delivered right to your door…yes, that includes a bouquet of gorgeous flowers or hand-written letter too. However, it is even more wonderful to get fresh, local, organic and seasonal produce (a.k.a. healthy food) delivered to your doorstep along with delicious recipes to accompany. Grocery shopping for healthy, good-tasting produce is time consuming. Furthermore, the fruits and vegetables in our local grocery stores may not always be the freshest, cleanest or the best-tasting. There is a solution to this dilemma. By purchasing a weekly or bi-weekly subscription to an organic box of veggies–straight from your local farmer–you not only cut your shopping time to nearly zero, but you also get the freshest produce possible, straight from the source–the farm. On top of this, you are supporting your local, organic farmer and their sustainable farming practices. This is a win-win situation! So, what is a CSA you may ask?

What is a CSA?

CSA stand for Community Supported Agriculture and it is a movement to connect or I should say reconnect the food production system directly to the consumer. Basically, it means your food comes straight from the farm, just like it used to ages ago. Furthermore, by purchasing a weekly or bi-weekly food “share” or box, this ensures the farmer is guaranteed a market or source of income for their crops. Most importantly, your local CSA is a way to support sustainable farming practices, which ultimately helps the community and environment in which you live. Depending on your local CSA, you may be able to purchase more than just fruits and vegetables. Some even offer honey, pastured eggs, flowers, canned jams and pickles. And the crème de la crème, is the fact that most CSA’s are now including recipes for their produce in the box. What a bonus!

Top 5 Reasons to Join a CSA

Supports Your Local Organic Farmer
Ensures High Quality, Superior Tasting Produce
Saves Time Grocery Shopping & Meal Planning
Ensures You Are Eating a Variety of Fruits & Vegetables
Is All Year Around vs. Seasonal Farmer’s Markets

The CSA for Stanislaus County, which is the one I joined, is Rancho Piccolo. Sign up here

To find a CSA anywhere in California look here

The below recipe was included in my CSA box this week and it was so, so gorgeous thanks to the beautiful produce from Rancho Piccolo! Because making this recipe was so easy and super up-lifting, I had to pass on the recipe. Watermelon radishes are in season for January and their amazing color and beauty is sure to remind you of a tropical beach or summer setting…just what the doctor ordered for this chilly cold January. I love that this salad includes fresh ginger, orange and lime. All three ingredients will boost your immune system during the winter cold/flu season, as they are tremendously high in the cold-fighting nutrient–Vitamin C. The color alone in this salad is sure to bring you warmth, joy and happiness, all of which we could use during middle of a chilly winter season. The recipe is originally inspired by Lynne Rossetto Kasper, The Splendid Table.