Recently a neighbour of mine joined a CSA program, and are pretty much excited about it. They are happy with the produce they receive every week and suggest that we should give it a try. CSA shorts for Community Shared Agriculture is a program which connects the farmers and consumers. A consumer can subscribe to the harvest of a particular farm. In return, the farmer can maintain a guaranteed market, and the consumer can receive high quality, fresh food as it becomes available.
Where to find a CSA farm near you? I wouldn’t seem to be able to find a website listing all CSA farms in Ontario. Google map would show you some entries, but there aren’t too many showing on the map. You can try your luck at a website called Harvie – https://www.harvie.farm; they try to maintain a directory of some of the CSA farms in North America.
How much does the program cost? Let’s take Forsythe Farms as an example. If you are interested, you can still sign up for their 2020 season. Your membership will be pro-rated for the weeks remaining in the season. It’s $550 for an 18 weeks season with a one time $10 charge on the cooler bag. If you want eggs, add $108.
What is in the box? According to the Forsythe Farms’ FAQ, you would receive the followings:
July – Strawberries, Fresh Raspberries, Large Head Broccoli, Bunch Carrots w/ Tops, Basket Fresh Peas, Head Romaine
August – Fresh Niagara Peaches, Large Bell Peppers, Beefsteak Tomatoes, Strawberries, White Spanish Onion, Sweet Corn, Leaf Lettuce
September – Honey Crisp Apples, Garlic, Green Pepper, Spaghetti Squash, Dozen Corn, Carrots, Cucumbers, Potatoes
October – Apples, Lettuce, Cranberries, Butternut Squash, Onions, Flemish Pears, Red Pepper, Swiss Chard
For more information or sign-in, please visit their website at http://forsythefamilyfarms.com/csa/.
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