Last week, I introduced you to Community-Supported Agriculture, aka CSA, which is basically a way to take advantage of all the great fresh produce grown here in the Central Valley through subscription boxes. If you missed that, you should check it out here, and read all about Ooooby Fresno, the first of four CSAs I’m profiling.
This week, I’ll be looking at another contributor to the Community-Supported Agriculture scene here in FresYes: The Farmer’s Daughter CSA, which is based out of Kingsburg, CA.
The Farmer’s Daughter CSA at a Glance
Website: Found here
Contact: (559) 994-9938
Pick up/Home Delivery: Pick up locations in Fresno and Clovis, Home Delivery for a small surcharge ($25 for 8 deliveries) in Fresno on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Box sizes available:
• Organic Small Box, 8 different items. $18
• Organic Large Box, 12 different items. $32
Just FYI: Boxes are customizable but are slightly more expensive than the pre-selected version. Add-ons range from honey and jam to sea salt and extra virgin olive oil.
The Farmer’s Daughter Questions Answered
Kristi Bravo is the dynamo behind The Farmer’s Daughter CSA, and she took some time out of her jam-packed schedule to answer my barrage of questions.
Jenna Ardaiz-Brown: What path led you to starting up your business?
Kristi Bravo: My family and I began KMK Organic Farms in the early 1990s. I played college basketball and graduated in 2008. I was working as a personal trainer when I went to work one day to a sign on the door saying it had closed.
I drove back to what was familiar and began working on the family farm again. I did seven farmer markets a week during my high school years. My dad and I decided to start the CSA by demand by our customers and also as a way for me to create a job for myself, and I then became a customer of the family farm, rather then an “employee,” which fit better for our family dynamic.
What’s your favorite aspect of running a CSA?
Supporting family farms. I understand firsthand how many different hats our farmers wear, and I can help them out by selling their produce for them and allow them more time doing what they love.
Your personal favorite product you include in the boxes is…?
It changes as the season changes. I love be in tune with the seasons and the food that is provided to us during that season.
What sets your business apart?
I offer home delivery and allow customers to place custom orders, and, behind the scenes, it’s just me. I coordinate all the orders, pick up for the local farmers, and deliver them to my customers. Everyone is always surprised to actually see “me” deliver their box to them.
“What the heck am I supposed to do with all this fennel?!!”
Rachael Ray has several fennel recipes that rock! I love it thinly sliced in my salads.
What’s your favorite and least fave fruit or veggie?
Asparagus is probably my favorite, but that is probably ’cause we are knee-deep in the season. I’m always looking forward to what’s coming into season. Lately I’ve been eating my weight in strawberries.
You definitely owe it to yourself to check out the bounty offered at The Farmer’s Daughter CSA. As a side note, this is the CSA I went with when I came back to Fresno five years ago. I loved the flexibility of the ordering system, and the produce selection was always beautiful.
Remember: this is the second of four profiles I’m doing on local CSAs, so make sure to check in during the next couple of weeks for profiles on Abundant Harvest Organics and Harvest Fields Organic Farm!
I was born in Fresno and grew up here, as did my husband and my parents. I'm thrilled to be raising my young son here too! I've gone away for school and spent brief periods in other parts of California, but have always ended up homesick for my hometown.
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- Meet Your Local CSA: The Farmer’s Daughter CSA - April 25, 2017
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