Most folks have heard of a CSA. You know, the community-supported agriculture projects that small-scale farming operations like Tampa's Sweetwater Organic Community Farm and Bradenton's Geraldson Community Farm use to distribute their harvests. But a similar system has launched with glorious loaves of bread, instead of produce, in Seminole Heights. (As if this food editor needed another reason to go ham on carbs.)
Family-run Tampa bakery Gulf Coast Sourdough & Wild Yeast Breads is behind the new project known as Seminole Heights Community-Supported Baking, or CSB. According to Gulf Coast Sourdough co-founder and head baker Brett Wiewiora, patrons of the neighborhood's monthly Sunday morning market would ask where they could find his bakery after market hours. And now, locals can start scoring freshly made artisan breads on the regular.
To sign up, all bread lovers have to do is visit Gulf Coast Sourdough's website and subscribe to the four- or eight-week share (and seriously, who can't get behind a steady stream of fresh bread?). Loaves are picked up weekly between 4 and 7 p.m. on Tuesdays at Southern Brewing & Winemaking, but customers with 33603 or 33604 zip codes can opt to get their loaves delivered for an additional $1 per week.
Samples of the CSB recipes — which include a roasted red pepper sandwich loaf, olive and herb bread, and a cinnamon swirl loaf — are featured during pick-up times. There's also a limited number of extra breads available for purchase.
"It's great to have Gulf Coast Sourdough in Seminole Heights, and we love serving as the pick up point for the CSB," said Southern co-owner Kelly Fenstermacher. "Bread and beer are a match made in heaven."
This article appears in Jun 1-8, 2017.