City Fresh brings holiday shares and fresh recipes to the festive table


City Fresh, a nonprofit focused on fostering a healthier and more equitable local food system, will conclude its 2024 season with special December holiday shares available for pickup next week in Cleveland Heights (Tuesday, Dec. 17), Oberlin (Wednesday, Dec. 18), and Lakewood (Thursday, Dec. 19). Registration is required by this Saturday, Dec. 14.

“City Fresh is unique in that we do a week-to-week model, so anyone can join anytime in our season, even this late in the year during our bonus and holiday shares,” says Leah Finegold, City Fresh program director. “It’s never too late to join and there’s no commitment required. You just need to meet the order deadline for whatever share that you want.”

City Fresh’s December holiday shares will offer locally grown winter staples like squash, apples, root vegetables, and brassicas, which could include broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. Finegold adds that the family-sized shares often include special items—like locally made jam or heirloom grains—as a seasonal treat.

City Fresh produceCity Fresh produceStandard pricing for single shares, which feed one to two people, is $22, while family shares that feed three to five people are $35. Multiple shares can be ordered as well.

Finegold notes, “We also do sliding-scale pricing and participate in multiple nutrition incentive programs like SNAP, EBT, and fruit and vegetable coupons. All of that is just to make eating fresh, local, resource-produced food more accessible and affordable to everybody.”

Limited income pricing runs $13 for a single share and $22 for a family share, while SNAP/EBT prices are even lower.

The organization’s main farm box program operates like a CSA (community-supported agriculture). It delivers pre-selected bundles of seasonal fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers to 16 pickup locations across Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties from June through October, with bonus shares available at select locations in late November and mid-December to close out each season.

City Fresh’s model supports small family farms within a 75-mile radius of Cleveland.

“We’ve been working with many of our partner farmers for nearly 20 years,” Finegold explains. “These are small family farms, and we purchase directly from them, ensuring they’re getting top dollar for their goods. They may not have the resources to obtain official organic certifications, but their produce is grown with the same care and attention.”

Produce at City FreshProduce at City FreshCity Fresh was established in 2005 and organizers focus on serving communities that have limited access to fresh food, often referred to as “food deserts.”

“Our mission is to create a healthy, equitable, and just local food system,” says Finegold. “We’re not just delivering farm shares; we’re also building knowledge and community around eating seasonally and making fresh produce fun and engaging.”

To complement its produce shares, City Fresh provides recipes and educational resources to help shoppers make the most of their food.

“Sharing recipes in our newsletter is a really important part of our work,” Finegold says. “Not only are we bringing fresh fruits and vegetables to people, but we also want to answer the question: ‘What do I do with them now that I’ve taken them home?’

Finegold answers, “We help people identify unfamiliar vegetables and provide ideas for how to make them delicious.”

Here is one recipe to get you started. Happy holiday eating!

Maple Thyme Roasted Parsnips, Carrots, and Brussels Sprouts
Adapted from Flavor the Moments, Courtesy of City Fresh’s Newsletter

Ingredients:

  • 3 parsnips peeled and cut into 1/2” chunks
  • 3 carrots peeled and cut into 1/2” chunks
  • 1 stalk/bag Brussels sprouts trimmed, and outer leaves removed, then halved
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and place the vegetables on a large, rimmed baking sheet.
2. Add the olive oil, maple syrup, thyme, salt and pepper to the vegetables and toss well to coat. Spread the vegetables out into a single layer and roast for 30-35 minutes until tender and caramelized.
3. Enjoy!

Rebecca Cahill
Rebecca Cahill

About the Author: Rebecca Cahill

Rebecca Cahill is a freelance writer who is thrilled to contribute to FreshWater Cleveland, sharing the stories of the people and places that make our fine Forest City flourish and grow.