47th Avenue Farms

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOOVE LOVELOVE LOVEEE LOOOVE! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOOVE!!!
Was I supposed to say something else? Well, OK…
I have a half share… this season it costs $ 540, so it’s a bit of a chunk to come up with. But wowie zowie!!! it is worth every penny. And this season, Laura worked out a payment plan with me, so that the cost is spread out over time.
Veggie pick up is every week in the Summer, and every other week in the Winter.
Here is how they do it:
A long table is set up under an awning. both sides of the table are decked with the same selection of boxes. Each of those boxes contains its own particular delicacy. We bring our own bags, and load ‘em up. The quantity we are to take is posted on each box, and it works on the honor system. (I have only cheated once, and only by a little… OH! fingerling potatoes, you made a cheat out of me!!)
Can you say FRESH? I first realized how UN-​fresh grocery store vegetables are by the shelf-​life of Laura’s vegetables. Tonight I made some kale that I got from a pick-​up 2 weeks ago. It is still crisp, dark green and very yummy.
Another thing? She offers veggies I would never buy in the store. So along with your normal staples like broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, etc, you also get… Rutabaga? Celeriac? WTF is this shit? I’ll tell ya what it is: IT’S FUN! I love trying new veggies I’ve never tried before, and lest you think those super-​cute helpers behind the table are just there to reload the boxes, think again! They know a lot about the food being grown, including how to cook it.
Did you know that parsnips are good thin-​cut and fried? Neither did I. :)
Oh, and I have a new love… something I’ve never seen in the store, they are long skinny, bright red and super sweet peppers. OH THE JOY!!!
This place is a total win!

I’m nearly done with my second year with this CSA and only have good things to say about 47^th Avenue Farms. The price point is a little higher then some other CSAs but the bounty of high quality produce each week easily justifies the cost. This season I paid $ 540 for a half share; at 24 weeks (much longer then some CSAs!) it comes to $ 22.50/week.
The return is around 10 different items per week. As an omnivore household of two, it is a lot of veggies to get through per week! This year the lettuces, cucumbers, and carrots have been remarkable. We’ve had some form of garlic and onion almost every week and have had beautiful dill, basil, and cilantro throughout the season. We are just now hunkering into juicy red tomatoes and sweet corn. 47^th Avenue Farms has me covered on all my veg needs and makes it so my grocery store trips are quite minimal.
The produce is fresh enough that nothing spoils within the week and, if I can’t finish something one week, it is still good the next week too. At the weekly pick up, you bring in your own bags and pick out your share. Next to each item is a sign with the quantity you are supposed to take and you get to pick the stuff that looks good to you! Laura and her staff are around to chat with and they seem to do at least one farm party day each season.
I appreciate the weekly recipe packet which is full of not only recipes, but also tidbits about how to prepare some of the less common veggies (I totally needed the help with the fava beans).
The only thing this CSA is missing is the occasional fruit but with all of the farmers markets around Portland, I can still get what I need.

47^th Ave. Farms is an urban CSA farm. In laymen’s terms, that’s Community Shared Agriculture. In practical terms, that means that community members and vegetable lovers buy a share of the farm each year. In exchange, they receive a share of the harvest, usually in the form of a box of in-​season fruits and veggies.
47^th Ave is a curious CSA because of its location in the heart of urban southeast Portland, but their veggies are just as delicious as their fellow farmers in rural settings. A handful of well-​respected Portland restaurants prominently feature 47^th Avenue veggies, such as Geno’s, Navarre, and Nostrana.
Check the website for info about being a member and reaping a share of the bounty. Act fast – shares sell out quick.