You may have heard all about our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program but you’ve been hesitant to sign up. That’s alright, we know it can be overwhelming – maybe you’re wondering what to do with all the organic produce in your box! You may think, “Beets? Eggplant? What should I do with this?!” Well… if you happen to be a parent, we have just the ticket. It’s no secret that homemade baby food has been on the rise due to its many benefits. Just check out some we’ve heard and read from doctors, news sources and moms around the globe:
- Homemade baby food is the most nutritious. Store bought baby food, including organic brands, has a shelf life of about 2 years! In order to achieve this, the food needs to be sterilized which is accomplished by heating it to very high temperatures to ensure food safety. While necessary for shelf life, this process kills vitamins, nutrients, taste, color and aroma in the process. Homemade baby food is higher in nutrients and retains most of its nutritional value, taste, color, texture and aroma because it is only lightly steamed and not overcooked. In fact, most ripe fruits can be pureed without cooking, leaving all of the precious nutrients intact!
- It’s more economical than buying pre-packaged foods. Buying commercially prepared baby food can get very expensive. Depending on the brand, store bought baby food can cost two to three times more than homemade, not to mention the dollars wasted when you throw away a jar or pouch of half eaten food.
- You know exactly what you’re feeding your baby.
- You’re in control, and can choose your own fruits & veggies to puree. You don’t have to rely solely on the flavors chosen by manufacturers.
- It gets the baby used to eating the same food as the rest of the family, just in puree form!
Each week’s CSA share from Johnson’s Backyard Garden – Denton is a little different from the last, and we assure you, you don’t want to miss out… from squash to zucchini to cucumber, to yes, even beets and sometimes eggplant, there are plenty of organic veggies that will puree perfectly into homemade baby food for your little ones. And the best thing about it? You know exactly what’s in it and even where it came from.
To sign up for your share, visit jbgorganic.com and select Light Farms as your pick up location. Produce shares are harvested every Wednesday (which is when the week’s box contents are released on their website) and delivered to the Light Farms Information Center that Saturday morning! (This quick farm-to-family turnaround helps retain nutritional value, too.) Keep up with Light Farms’ CSA program and details here: The Farm Stand at Light Farms.
*Remember: the cutoff for signup is every MONDAY AT 12PM before that Saturday’s delivery, so head to JBG’s website and sign up now to get your share this Saturday, August 1st!
