Get Fresh: CSA’s in Ottawa
It’s still a winter wonderland out there, but believe it or not, now is the time to start thinking about gardens full of veggies and orchards bursting with fruit. The best way to get your hands on all that locally-grown bounty? Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) to get your share of a nearby farm’s annual crop—a bin of the freshest, highest quality food—delivered to you all summer long.
Bryson’s is the biggest name in town, delivering certified organic produce and organic beef all over Ottawa. They’re known for their quality and reliability, and they’re best for newbies; instead of committing to a whole season, you can try them for a week or two first. We love their easy-peasy website—place or cancel orders online, or add a few extras to your weekly bin. Need to green up your winter? They’ve got frozen produce as well that can be delivered year round.
Jardin Rochon has one of the longest growing seasons, offering CSA boxes from mid-May right through to October. Bring your Rochon cloth bag to any one of their pickup locations across the city—from Kanata to Barrhaven to Orleans to the Glebe—and select from an amazing array of fruits, vegetables and herbs. If you can’t make it in person, arrange for home delivery for a small fee. We won’t be able to resist their great add-ons like eggs, sheep cheese and maple syrup, too.
The Foster Family Farm is one of the few to offer fruit as well as veggies in their boxes—in-season watermelon, cantaloupe and raspberries go in the bin, and early signups score four free baskets of pick-your-own strawberries in July. Plus, you’ll find a bonus dozen free range eggs every week in their full share box. Pickup is easy in Kanata, Barrhaven, and Cedarview, with new locations added as requests come in. Best of all is their referral program—earn a free week of food for every family you send their way.
Sign ups for all local farms are open now, so act quickly before shares sell out.
Keep moving—we’ve got 7 more amazing local CSA farms for even more delicious delights.
