Warmer weather has finally arrived here in the North Country. Farmers, gardeners, and fresh-food enthusiasts alike are eagerly awaiting the start of the farmer’s market season. And while shopping at the farmer’s market is a great way to support our local agriculture and reduce your food miles, why not take it one step further and consider joining a CSA?<\/p>\n
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has been active for over 25 years, and is growing throughout our region. It has become a popular way for consumers to buy fresh, local, seasonal food directly from farmers, not just by shopping at the farmer’s market.<\/p>\n
Here’s how it works: a farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Consumers then sign up early in the year to purchase a share (or a membership or subscription) and in return receive seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season. A share typically consists of a box of fresh vegetables, but other farm products like eggs, homemade bread, meat, cheese, fruit and flowers can be included. The box will vary somewhat as the season progresses. Pick-up is usually at the farm itself or at the closest farmer’s market. Best of all, there’s no waiting in line!<\/p>\n
CSAs have many benefits for consumers as well as farmers. The farmers get to market and sell their food early in the season, generating income and supporting the farm for the year. And consumers get fresh and healthy food each week, in addition to getting to know the farmers, where their food comes from, and how its grown. Receiving a fresh box of local food each week may also cause you to cooking
\nmore at home (which is a good thing, in my opinion), and you can freeze or can any leftover produce. It’s really a win-win situation for everyone.<\/p>\n
If
\nyou think you might like to sign up for a membership in a CSA this
\nyear, you should get started soon because their lists tend to fill up
\nearly. Below are several CSAs in our area. The list is by no means
\ncomplete, as we have so many great ones here and more start up each
\nyear. But it will give you a place to begin:<\/p>\n
Kilpatrick Family Farm
\nGlens Falls Farmer’s Market
\n37 South St
\nGlens Falls, NY 12801(518) 217-8595<\/p>\n
New England Farms
\n31 Main St
\nGranville, NY 12832
\n(518) 642-3270<\/p>\n
Quincy Farm
\nEaston, NY
\n(518) 290-0296
\nwww.quincyfarm.net<\/p>\n
Field Goods -Local Food Delivery\/CSA
\nWeight Watchers of the Adirondacks
\n12 Mountain Ledge Drive
\nGansevoort, NY 12831<\/p>\n
Denison farm
\nSaratoga Mid-week Pick-up Site
\nWarren Street
\nSaratoga Springs, NY 12866<\/p>\n
Lewis Waite Farm
\n135 Lewis Hill Ln
\nGreenwich, NY 12834
\n(518) 692-3120<\/p>\n
Champlain Orchards
\nRutland Co-Op
\n77 Wales St
\nRutland, VT 05701<\/p>\n
CSAs
\nare a great option for people looking for fresh, healthy food that also
\nbenefits the local farmers who grow it. They’re pretty convenient, too.
\nIf you add in shopping trips to the farmer’s market and any of your own
\nfood that your able to grow, by becoming a CSA member you will be
\nvirtually guaranteeing a high-quality food supply for you and your
\nfamily. Plus with a CSA, you may even get to visit the farm sometime and
\nsee how the whole process unfolds. By learning to appreciate where our
\nfood comes from and how it’s grown, we will become healthier and more
\naware as individuals, and also help benefit the communities that we all
\ntreasure so much.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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