Tastemakers
Rick Coates 9/14/09
Community Supported Agriculture
During my visits to area farmers markets this summer I have noticed more and more Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms. It seems that CSA are popping up all over, with more than 24 in Northern Michigan and others in the planning stages.
To put it simply, the CSA concept allows the consumer to buy “shares” each year in a farm’s harvest. Consumers pay in advance and each week they receive their share of the harvest by either coming to the farm to pick it up or at a central location like a community farmers’ market. Typically a CSA offers fruits and vegetables, though some offer free range chicken and beef.
According to the Michigan CSA organization, members typically spend between $200 and $500 and sometimes more if it goes beyond just vegetables and fruit. CSA are beneficial to both the consumer and the farmer. From the farmer’s perspective, they pre-sell their crops and are able to focus on farming during the growing and harvest season instead of on marketing and selling their products.
Consumers have a connection to where their food comes from. They share with the farmer concerns over weather or other issues that may impact the crop. Members may also enjoy some of the labor aspects of the CSA by assisting the farmer with planting or harvest.
CSA is not a fad; as concerns grow with crop safety of mass produced produce, having locally grown and raised products is a trend that will continue for years to come. For additional details or to locate a CSA farm in Northern Michigan check out csafarms.org. --Rick Coates
Grand Traverse Distillery
Wheat Vodka
When Kent Rabbish opened the Grand Traverse Distillery just over three years ago with True North Vodka followed by a Cherry Vodka (“you can’t be in the beverage business in Traverse City and not have a cherry product”), he always planned to offer additional products. He recently released the Grand Traverse Distillery Wheat Vodka.
“Our goal is to offer different flavor characteristics to our customers,” said Rabbish. “We also wanted to be able to put a quality vodka on the market priced in the low 20s without compromising the standard set by our True North Vodka.”
Rabbish is proud that, like his True North Vodka that uses Northern Michigan rye, his new Wheat Vodka also only uses Michigan wheat. “We are a Michigan company and proud of it, so we want to use Michigan products.”
The Grand Traverse Distillery Wheat Vodka has a much different flavor profile than the True North Vodka, it is less sweet and has a more distinct grain taste to it. Both vodkas are excellent and certainly the Wheat Vodka may be enjoyed chilled. it is a better choice for vodka drinks, such as a vodka tonic or a sea breeze.
Rabbish is not stopping with vodka, next year he will release a barrel-aged rye whiskey. I had a sneak taste last week and it is very smooth and is as good as some of Tennessee’s best whiskeys. In 2011 he will release a barrel aged bourbon.
Grand Traverse Distillery products are available throughout Northern Michigan. -- Rick Coates
Rick Coates 9/14/09
Community Supported Agriculture
During my visits to area farmers markets this summer I have noticed more and more Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms. It seems that CSA are popping up all over, with more than 24 in Northern Michigan and others in the planning stages.
To put it simply, the CSA concept allows the consumer to buy “shares” each year in a farm’s harvest. Consumers pay in advance and each week they receive their share of the harvest by either coming to the farm to pick it up or at a central location like a community farmers’ market. Typically a CSA offers fruits and vegetables, though some offer free range chicken and beef.
According to the Michigan CSA organization, members typically spend between $200 and $500 and sometimes more if it goes beyond just vegetables and fruit. CSA are beneficial to both the consumer and the farmer. From the farmer’s perspective, they pre-sell their crops and are able to focus on farming during the growing and harvest season instead of on marketing and selling their products.
Consumers have a connection to where their food comes from. They share with the farmer concerns over weather or other issues that may impact the crop. Members may also enjoy some of the labor aspects of the CSA by assisting the farmer with planting or harvest.
CSA is not a fad; as concerns grow with crop safety of mass produced produce, having locally grown and raised products is a trend that will continue for years to come. For additional details or to locate a CSA farm in Northern Michigan check out csafarms.org. --Rick Coates
Grand Traverse Distillery
Wheat Vodka
When Kent Rabbish opened the Grand Traverse Distillery just over three years ago with True North Vodka followed by a Cherry Vodka (“you can’t be in the beverage business in Traverse City and not have a cherry product”), he always planned to offer additional products. He recently released the Grand Traverse Distillery Wheat Vodka.
“Our goal is to offer different flavor characteristics to our customers,” said Rabbish. “We also wanted to be able to put a quality vodka on the market priced in the low 20s without compromising the standard set by our True North Vodka.”
Rabbish is proud that, like his True North Vodka that uses Northern Michigan rye, his new Wheat Vodka also only uses Michigan wheat. “We are a Michigan company and proud of it, so we want to use Michigan products.”
The Grand Traverse Distillery Wheat Vodka has a much different flavor profile than the True North Vodka, it is less sweet and has a more distinct grain taste to it. Both vodkas are excellent and certainly the Wheat Vodka may be enjoyed chilled. it is a better choice for vodka drinks, such as a vodka tonic or a sea breeze.
Rabbish is not stopping with vodka, next year he will release a barrel-aged rye whiskey. I had a sneak taste last week and it is very smooth and is as good as some of Tennessee’s best whiskeys. In 2011 he will release a barrel aged bourbon.
Grand Traverse Distillery products are available throughout Northern Michigan. -- Rick Coates
