Beneficial Food from Beneficial Farms

Local food from Beneficial Farms CSA is now available downtown in a community atmosphere at Santa Fe Complex. Beneficial Farms worked with the Complex to open a fourth location for members to pick-up their food share each Thursday. This location will offer fresh farm boxes in an open atmosphere for members to not only receive their food, but also meet other CSA members and discuss recipes and cooking tips for the week’s food. the Complex creates community connections across science, technology and art. “The community connection is how Beneficial Farms CSA fits into the mission of the Complex,” said Dena Aquilina, Member of the Arts Group at SF Complex and Director of the 2009 Summer@The Complex program.

The CSA community is also organically created through the members and that is what helps Steve Warshawer, Beneficial Farms Founder, receive feedback and communicate with members each week. “Many people ask me how we can have CSA food in the winter and it is because the farms and the members realize the importance of continuing our collective local food experience year-round,” Warshawer said.

Founded in 1994, Beneficial Farms CSA works with more than 30 farms throughout New Mexico and Colorado as a cooperative CSA. Members complete online polls on regional food items so that the CSA receives feedback before adding the food weekly shares. Key farms in New Mexico include Mesa Top Farm on Glorieta Mesa near Santa Fe, Shiroz Vineyard in La Luz, Desert Gardens in Hatch and Garden Hers Farm in Dona Ana. The key farms use sustainable and organic methods.

Warshawer points out that SF Complex is located at the last address of New Life Cooperative, where he began his local and regional food system work in the late 1970s and 1980s. “New Life operated a retail store at this location and a warehouse in the old Sambusco space. Much that we are currently acting on in our regional distribution projects had roots at New Life and the Complex location,” said Warshawer.

The new location in the Complex is exciting to current CSA members as well. “I used to pick-up my food in a pre-packed bag and I never saw another member so it was happening in isolation. I look forward to talking with CSA members at the Complex.” Aquilina, a current CSA member said. Other members are looking forward to more interaction and the community atmosphere at the location in the western edge of the Railyard district.

The CSA operates with weekly food share distributions each Thursday to members. The locations with a community atmosphere include Kitchen Angels, Eldorado, SF Complex and remote locations at St. Johns College and in Madrid, NM. A bike courier service for home delivery of shares in Santa Fe is also available for a weekly or monthly fee. Members pay for the CSA season in advance or have the option for electronic billing. the Complex site is located at 632 Agua Fria St with access from Romero Street. For more information on membership, visit www.beneficialfarm.com and for current CSA details click on the blog link in the top left menu on the website.