Tonopah Rob's Vegetable Farm

Concerns about food imports, declining farmer population, and reduced produce quality in the early 1970s led a group of Japanese women to foster a direct growing and purchasing relationship between their group and local farmers. From this relationship the CSA or Community Supported Agriculture was born, although the name didn’t come along until 1985 when Indian Lane Farm in Massachusetts coined the term. Today there are over 1500 CSAs across the U.S. and Canada, and Tonopah Rob’s is one of them.

Families joining a CSA are more than members, they are partners of the farm and farmer. CSAs exist because community members make a pledge to support the farm operation through their commitment to buy a share. The farmer in turn supports the share-holder by supplying a weekly package of produce that ideally is locally grown, all-natural, and freshly picked.

Tonopah Rob offers members nearly a bushel of all-natural fresh produce and of course it is all grown right on his farm just outside of Phoenix. An example of what might be in a share can be seen in the photo above and includes: cauliflower, carrots, beets, broccoli, bell peppers, spinach, asian greens, two different types of chinese cabbage, cabbage, radishes, turnips, dill, cilantro, onions, grapefruit, oranges, and when available – eggs from Rob’s own brood of happy, healthy chickens. Weight and contents vary depending on time of year, productivity of the ground, nature’s cooperation, and what pests are trying to cozy up to the veggies. Rob strives to have his shares weighing in at or near 20 pounds per week, but might dip as low as 12 pounds from time to time. This is often enough produce for the entire week for two people on a vegetarian diet or a family of four on a mixed diet.

Today, just as back when the CSA was born more than 30 years ago, people are joining due to worries about food imports, poor produce quality in stores (more and more people are wondering what happened to flavor) but today additional modern issues such as pollution, energy usage, genetically modified plants, potentially unhealthful chemicals, fertilizers, cloning, and industrial sized farm operations who appear more concerned with profits than quality are driving families to find local healthy and flavorful fruits and vegetables.

Something else to consider, during the last recession back in the late 1980s, people turned to little luxuries to offset the financial difficulties of the times. It was back then that Starbucks and Cold Stone Creamery really took off. Today, during these times of foreclosures, declining home values, burdensome medical costs, rising energy and transportation prices, and restaurant bills that fewer of us can afford, not many people are looking for new ways to buy expensive drinks or fattening sugary desserts. Fresh, healthy, all-natural vegetables are just the answer to lowering our food bills, feeding our families better tasting and more nutritious meals, and feeling all around better for supporting our community, purchasing local goods, and doing something wonderful for ourselves.

If you are interested in joining Tonopah Rob’s CSA, contact him at 623-386-3033, email him, or visit his farm stand on Saturday’s from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm – rain or shine. Share price is $30 per week plus a small registration fee.