Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) provides a way for consumers to link with local food producers and farmers. There is an initial fee to join the CSA. That upfront fee allows the producer to know how much to plant and provides an assurance of some income. Because farming is a risky business in terms of weather and crop failures, having members of a CSA is a way that consumers and farmers can share some of the risks. Usually the risks are overcome and the CSA provides a supply of fresh, locally grown produce during the growing season. Michael Pollan writes In Defense of Food that eating food from a CSA is a good way to diversify one's diet and leads one to more cooking at home - which is nurturing, creative and satisfying. CSAs are also a way to shorten the food chain. The food is picked when ripe and is fresher than supermarket produce. In addition, the relationship between producer and consumer is "the best guarantee of quality in your food." (Polland, p. 160) "Food reclaims its story, and some of its nobility, when the person who grew it hands it to you.... so, Shake the hand that feeds you." (Polland, p. 160)
The following are CSAs which are currently in operation in our area. Why not check out these folks and make plans to join a CSA before next planting season?! Cleaner Greener America Foundation, Kevin & Dawn Rooney, 866.238.0337 e-mail: rooneyassoc777@yahoo.com website is www.cgafoundation.org Echo Ridge Farm, Amanda Rezba, owner. Call 540.327.6824, website at www.echoridgefarm.org Haskins Family Farm, Middletown, VA; Provides poultry and pork regularly, info@haskinsfamilyfarm.com or 540.869.3795 Lei-Kei Farm, Matt Burch, owner, call
Shallowbrook Farm in Boyce, Susan or Eric Keene 540.837.2381 or www.shallowbrookfarmfresh.com Smallwood's Veggieporium, Berryville, VA, Suzanne Smallwood, call 540.327.7144 Ssmallwood43@gmail.com |