John Lee, of Allandale Farm, as sent along this update on their plans to offer a CSA this year. Check it out!
"In 2009 Allandale Farm will open its own CSA. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a term used to describe an alternative marketing method for agricultural entrepreneurs and those consumers who appreciate truly fresh produce and the need to support their local farm(er)s. There are many different types of CSAs but essentially all of the models involve ‘selling’ shares of the anticipated harvest to local consumers who agree to pick up an amount of fresh produce every week for a specified number of weeks during the harvest season.
The Allandale model will be somewhat different from other CSAs in MA. We will not require a work commitment from shareholders. Nor will we be able to offer a pick-your-own option. We will, however, offer occasional premiums on fresh produce (such as tomatoes or cut flowers) from time to time as the season progresses and as surpluses become available. (For instance, there might be a canning tomato special for CSA members.)
THE PLAN
The initial offering will be 150 shares at $600. Half shares will be available at $350. A share will consist of approximately one bushel of fresh produce each week during the season. The shares will be assembled by the farm staff and we will try to give each share a good distribution of whatever is being picked that week. Pick-up days will be Tuesday and Thursday starting May 26th and running for twenty weeks until October 13th. You must pick up your share between 10AM and 4PM. After that we will donate any uncollected shares to a local food shelter. Not all of the shares each week will necessarily have the same contents. You may not negotiate the contents of your share – it is what it is. No substitutions, please.
Please purchase your share(s) before March 15th so that the farm manager may plan for the summer. Your share will include periodic recipes and newsletter which will also be attached to the farm website.
Pick-ups will be made at the cash registers in the farmstand. Please give the cashier your name and our staff will get your share for you. We will be able, that way, to know who has picked up each week. Please bring your re-usable container with you each week so that we can have it for the following week’s pick-up.
It is expected that this will be an interactive relationship between the share-holders and the farm. We will be very interested in what you would like to see in you shares and we will be growing new varieties for you to test.
If you have questions or would like to join this exciting fresh food opportunity, please email John at allandalefarm@verizon.net. Shares will be limited this year to the first 150 subscribers. Your food has never been so fresh!"