CSA is short for Community Supported Agriculture
The CSA concept is simple: Members sign up, pay for a share at the start of the season, and pick up their share on a weekly schedule on a specified day between the months of June and November for the "regular season."
The farmer may choose any number of variations such as having only full shares(provides produce for a family of 4 to 6) as well as half shares(family of 2), vegetables only, or fruits included as well, farm stand style with choice flexibility or a boxed share with no choice.
The farmer may also choose to have produce only grown at his/her farm in the share, or may source from local farms as well. Some CSA's actually grow nothing, and buy all produce in from local farms. Some CSA's are strictly certified organic, while others grow using more conventional practices.
Members who join CSA's love the commitment they have with their chosen farm and to their effort to eat local and healthy, and know they share a bit of risk in that the farmer may have trouble with a few crops each season. Members tend to be very satisfied that they received a very fair amount of produce for their investment.
Cider Hill CSA:
We will committ to our CSA Members that all produce in our share is grown at our farm. We have an advantage in that we grow so many fruits as well as vegetables. We also expect eggs, herbs, cider and an occasional cider donut to make appearances in the shares. Distribution day is Wednesday, from 11am to 5:30pm beginning June 16 to October 27, making 20 weeks. Members who will arrive later than 5:30 will find their share in a box on a table in front of the store if they notify us earlier.
Family, or Full shares, will have 10 to 13 items equaling roughly $30, while a half share will have fewer items for a value of about $17.We have thought a lot about how to distribute the share, and have decided boxing it ahead of time will help keep the produce extremely fresh no matter what time of day you come, and will allow us to be sure every share gets a great selection. We will have a swap table where you can exchange an item you may not want with one that may fit your menu better. There will be opportunities for pick your own on some of the fruits if so desired, as well as CSA farm tours with any requested topic part of the tour.
The full share costs $600, while the half share costs $325. For additional FAQ's, please check out this link.
For an application form, please click this link.
We are very excited to begin this new venture, and the early response has been very encouraging!
Our CSA is full for 2010, but we will be growing this program next year, and have a sign up list in the farm store. We will give current members first shot to sign up next season, and then work down the list for the additional available shares. So far, we have had great enthusiasm and satisfaction with this new venture.
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