And when I say fresh, I mean really fresh. Stacy, Emily and I have all joined a CSF, or a Community Supported Fishery. CSFs are based on the concept of Community Supported Agriculture, where people ‘subscribe’ to a farm, and receive fruits and veggies directly from that farm. In a CSA, you ‘subscribe’, but instead of fresh, local vegetables, you get fresh fish and shrimp from local fishermen.
There are some definite benefits to belonging to a CSF. It’s relatively inexpensive, and it supports the local economy. In fact, the fishermen who are part of the CSF get a higher price for their catch than they would at market. The fishermen also don’t have to go in search of a specific kind of fish, which means they can fish whichever waters are safest – making their job much safer. The fish don’t have to travel very far, making it a really ‘green’ option. This also means your fish is likely to have been caught the same day that you get it, so it’s really tasty. And we know that fish can be a great part of a healthy diet.
There was one thing I did not fully anticipate or understand when I joined. The first week, I rode the T to Harvard Square (my pick-up location) with a cooler in hand, and left with a WHOLE COD in my cooler. After joining the CSF, my husband and I have had to become proficient at filleting both cod and flounder. We’ve also learned how to de-head, de-roe and de-shell a whole pile of northern shrimp (which are delicious, but really small and delicate). At first this made me a bit queasy, but by the time I had filleted my fifth flounder, I was actually quite proud of myself. I think there’s something to be said for really understanding – and coming to terms with - where your food comes from. I’m posting pictures of the cod and flounder, and might post some of the shrimp when I get a chance.
Sadly, the current season for our CSF ends in a couple of weeks. The next season will not begin until May, and I hope to join again then. For more information about CSFs in the area, including Cape Ann Fresh Catch, the CSF we joined, visit http://namanet.org/csf/.
