Meat in a Box

There are plenty of options for Chicagoans who like their produce delivered in a box. But there's only one community-supported agriculture (CSA) program that specializes in meat--and only meat.

Five years ago, Jody Osmund and his wife, Beth, decided to return to his roots--in more ways than one--by moving back to Ottawa, Illinois, and the family farm on which he was raised. Initially the couple focused on vegetable CSAs, but after receiving a grant from the Frontera Farmer Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Rick and Deann Bayless that helps sustainable farms, they shifted entirely to hormone-free, naturally raised meat.

The Cedar Valley Meat Share is what carnivorous dreams are made of: over 15 pounds of sustainably raised beef, chicken, pork and eggs, delivered to five pickup spots around the city. The year-round program offers 3-, 6- and 12-month options ($255, $500 and $975, respectively), with each monthly installment featuring a variety of fodder for the grill, the smoker and beyond.

To try before you buy, visit the Osmunds' stand at the Logan Square Farmers' Market on the third Sunday of each month.