I am in the thick of packing to move into my new apartment now. Wish me luck—I’m ready for this to be over and enjoy my new apartment! Today’s guest post is from Courtney from the Granola Chronicle’s! Welcome!
Hello to Lisa’s wonderful readers! I’m so happy to help Lisa with a guest post this week since she is busy moving into a new apartment – which is super exciting!
I’m Courtney, and I blog over at The Granola Chronicles: A Simple Approach to California Living. I was born and raised in Nebraska and spent a year out on the East Coast. I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in September 2010, as my husband started a graduate program in the area.
While I was looking forward to A LOT of things regarding my move to California, I was most excited about being surrounded by local produce. There are farmers’ markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs year-round – I’ve consumed more produce in that last 5 months than in my first 23 years of life! 
My husband and I belong to a weekly CSA program. We pay $23/week for fresh, organic & local produce. It is seriously the best program in the world! By purchasing fruits and vegetables directly from the farmers and growers, the middle-man is gone, and thus a strong local economy grows.
The above produce was in our CSA box last week: apples, oranges, grapefruits, carrots, broccoli, beets, onions, yams, potatoes, lettuce chard, and parsley. Quite the haul, huh?!
Because I have no choice in the produce I get, I’ve been forced to get creative with a lot of new vegetables (sunchokes, anyone?!). Also, it’s always a nice variety, and I don’t have to spend the time deciding what produce to purchase. The decision is made!
Here are a few CSA-inspired recipes that I’ve showcased on my blog.
Beet Risotto
Herb-Roasted Onions
Zucchini Brownies
All of the recipes for these goodies (+ more!) can be found on my blog under the tabs “Recipes” and “CSA.”
In honor of fruits & vegetables, tell me (and Lisa!): what is your favorite fruit and/or your favorite vegetable?
I love me a good grapefruit, and asparagus could never get old!
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m dying to join a CSA!
Favorite fruit = honeycrisp apple
Favorite veggie = brussel sprouts!
Clare @ Fitting It All In recently posted..Craving Chipotle & Pumpkin Muffins
Amen on the honeycrisps! They are SO good!
Wow, what an AWESOME program!! That sounds so neat! And seems like a great way to try some different produce that you wouldn’t always choose on your own. I’m jealous!
Jamie @ getalivingsense recently posted..I think I’m a closet morning person
I would love to join a CSA, I really need to look into that a bit more.
My favorite fruit is an apple, and my favorite veg would have to be a cucumber.
I participated in a CSA for the first time last year, and I loved it! The produce was amazing and delicious – I am so excited to participate in another one this year!
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey recently posted..when hunger strikes
That pile of produce just made me so hungry…
Good luck with the unpacking Lisa! I hope it’s quick and painless!
Laura recently posted..Pink Drinks and Presents
mmm my favorite veggie are any of the orange ones
and my favorite fruit would have to be mango
salah@myhealthiestlifestyle recently posted..Buzzin’
I looooove roasted broccoli and cauliflower (yes thats two…i cheated).
For fruit, can’t beat fresh strawberries. If PB is involved at all tho, it changes to bananas with pb.
Ashley @ 365 things recently posted..3111
I agree … is something about a great grapefruit I love! If I had to pick a favorite veggie?? Yikes, I don’t think I can!! I like almost everything
Great guest post Courtney!
Debbie B. (DebaRooRoo) recently posted..44 miles!!!!!
My favorite fruit is a honey crisp apple. I like most veggies. I need to look into a CSA. I do belong to the Oklahoma food coop. They offer everything grown in Oklahoma. Oh, I cant forget watermelon:)
Hi Courtney! I adore honeycrisp apples (I see I’m not the only one!
) and my fav veggies are beets and squash. Yummy post!
Melissa recently posted..Yum-tastic!
I am really interested in purchasing a CSA share…working on convincing the husband – he’s not sold on the idea.
Fav fruit – watermelon
Fav veggie – green beans
Karen recently posted..Brief Hiatus
I wish I could do the whole CSA thing but it’s not offered in my town! I’ll definitely start doing it once I move though.
My favorite fruit would have to be.. frozen grapes or any kind of berry. As for veggie.. carrots! Or broccoli. Maybe brussel sprouts.. I’m not picky.