At 7 PM tonight I picked up the very first bunch of veggie-goodies from my very first CSA share- with Heaven’s Harvest farm in New Braintree, MA. As we don’t have a Tuv Ha’aretz CSA in the Boston area, we have launched a campaign to ensure members of the Jewish community, beginning with those involved with the Moishe House Boston: Kavod Jewish Social Justice House, to join one of the many already existing CSAs in the area.

I had been anticipating it all week, wondering what freshly harvested items would be provided for me, a roommate and a nearby friend, who are all going in on the CSA share together.

Arriving at the convenient drop-off point to a surprise package of veggies (and herbs, strawberries and even a plant!) was truly exciting. I wondered if this might be an appropriate occasion to recite the shehecheyanu in honor of my first ever CSA share– I have supported local agriculture in a variety of other ways before, but this seemed categorically different than just spending a lazy Sunday morning at the farmers market. I phoned a friend and inquired about when she thought the right time to say the prayer, thanking G-d for allowing me to reach this day, when I could honor my community, the earth, and the growers of food, in this way would be.

Should I say it when I pick up the produce? When I put it away? When I eat the first strawberry?

Or perhaps I should have recited the shehecheyanu when I submitted my check. As someone who has been studying food and agriculture for several years, it does feel especially wonderful that this induction into the world of CSAs is part of a trend, a movement- as Alix wrote in yesterday’s post– this could potentially be part of a larger shift in demand to increase the market pressure for locally produced fruits and vegetables.

Based on the fundamental role of food in human nutrition, and the multitude of brachot that apply specifically to eating, I decided that I should say the bracha when I eat my first taste of CSA fare–tomorrow. What are your thoughts?