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Fresh Fields

By Shannon Corke

Nothing beats the first bite of a fresh Jersey tomato or the sultry sweetness of strawberries in season. And who doesn’t have memories of watermelon at a picnic or peach juice running down their youthful arms. These days, especially with the opening of spring, we are bombarded with grocery store advertisements fighting over who has the best produce. Even with the enormous selections you can choose from while picking through their architectural stacks of produce, there is something about produce from a local farm that just tastes better.

Today, that fresh picked flavor can be delivered straight to your door from a local farm. No, this does not require a John Deer Tractor or your entire back yard; the only prerequisite is the purchasing of share(s). This type of farming is known as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).

CSA began in 1985 at Indian Line Farm, Massachusetts, following a concept that traveled from Japan and through Europe. The CSA partnership is a mutual commitment between a farm and community of supporters. These supporters become members and make a commitment to support the farm throughout the season, and assume the costs, risks and bounty of growing food along with the farmer or grower. Membership fees help pay for seeds, fertilizer, water, equipment maintenance, labor, etc. As a supporter you reap the benefits of everything the farm has to provide through the growing season, beans, herbs, tomatoes, watermelon, etc.

The average consumer cost of a seasonal share in a CSA is determined by a projected budget reflecting the production cost for the upcoming year then divided by the number of share holders. This cost, usually works out to be less than what you would spend at the grocery store for produce for the late spring through fall months. Another benefit to the CSA is one share is usually designed to provide the weekly vegetable needs for a family of four. Flowers, fruit, honey, eggs and dairy products are also available through some CSA.

Some consumers may find that paying the cost of the shares in one lump sum may be prohibiting. In this case, they can elect to pay in several installments throughout the growing season. These payment options give consumers and the CSA a culturally diverse farm family. Some CSA farms might also offer a “working share” alternative. This opportunity gives members who commit three to fives hours a week to help the farm a discounted membership.

The “working share” option is not the only way to get your hands dirty and be involved on the farm. Most CSA farms invite members to visit the farm and welcome volunteers. Feeling the fruits of their own labor and seeing what their money is paying for, gives members of CSA a sense of pride and achievement.

One the largest and oldest operating CSA farm is in Pennington, New Jersey. Watershed Organic Farm (www.watershedfarm.com), run by Jim Kinsel and staff, has been in operation since 1984. It has upwards of 500 shareholders and is still growing. Watershed has launched a new southern New Jersey delivery route for the 2004 season which includes Trenton, Allentown, Chesterfield, Bordentown, Mount Holly, Moorestown, Marlton and Cherry Hill drop-off sites. If you’re interested in joining time is of the essence because membership fills quickly and applications are already being taken.

A program called Farm to City is offering assistance to three CSA farms this year: Covered Bridge Produce, Lancaster Organic Farm and Somerton Tanks Farm. City to Farm is dedicated to bring healthy food products to households in the Philadelphia area.

Think of what this growing season could bring you, sweet strawberries, robust salads filled with locally grown lettuce, tomato and peppers. All this and more could be yours fresh off the farm with membership in a Community Supported Agriculture farm. To find the distribution list or join these CSA farms and for more information visit www.farmtocity.org. Shannon Corke, a graduate of Rowan University, is an editor for Curious Parents.