Safer Foods
By: NBC News
Updated: August 13, 2007
Tainted spinach... Lettuce... Onions... Peanut butter... Ingredients from China -- all in the last year or so -- have some Americans looking for fresher, safer foods.Tracie Potts introduces us to a concept that's gaining popularity ... Allowing consumers to bring fresh vegetables straight from the farm to their tables.
"You're growing vegetables for people who really care about supporting local agriculture."
Every week -- Scott Hertzberg leaves his day job in Washington DC to harvest vegetables on his farm about 30 miles out of the city.
On Mondays, he brings a whole truckload of food to Capitol Hill to 80 families who've committed to buying his fresh fruits and vegetables all season long.
It's called community supported agriculture, or CSA. The idea is to bring together farmers and consumers in a partnership to bring fresh food straight from the farm to your table. Though CSA's are only a fraction of the nation's two million farms -- they're growing. Each farm only accepts a certain number of customers each year. Scott Hertzberg is sold out for the season... and has a waiting list. To find a local CSA in your area... www.localharvest.org.
There are about 13-hundred csas in the U.S. -- many of them organic. Food experts say customers like the idea... Because they have control over what ends up on their plates.
Buying organic doesn't guarantee safety... But, these customers say... The closer they get to the source -- the better they feel.... and the better it tastes.
