Farm offers local produce through CSA shares
Published 5:17 am Thursday, March 3, 2016
- Farm-fresh produce is offered through shares in Community Supported Agriculture.
Waverly Farms, of Burkeville, joined farms from around the country recently for National CSA Sign-Up Day.
The day encourages food consumers to buy a share of their local farm’s harvest for the 2016 season using a buying model known as Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA. CSA has become an important model to support local agriculture since it was introduced to the United States in the 1980s and since grown to over 6,000 farms across the country.
“Buying in to a CSA share with a local farmer is simply a win-win situation for the consumer — you get to know your local farmer, eat fresh and nutritious vegetables, eggs and meat every week or bi-weekly, and feel good about supporting young farmers who want desperately to make a living growing food well,” Patti Rosenberg, owner of Waverly Farms, LC, said.
“CSAs are the most authentic connection between a farmer and eater. CSA members get the freshest, high quality, seasonal local produce, but they also get a direct connection to their farmer. This model is economically important to farmers, especially small and beginning farmers, because they can grow with confidence knowing that they have a market for their produce ahead of time,” Simon Huntley, from Small Farm Central and creator of National CSA Sign-up Day, said.
“For good health, the foundation of our diets needs to be fresh food that is grown locally, harvested at its peak, and cooked at home. Fresh food is some of the easiest to cook and with the CSA you’ll receive detailed instructions for everything in your harvest share,” Rosenberg said. “Sign-up is easy, but sign up early to reserve your share.”
To learn more and join Waverly Farms for the 2016 season that begins April 28, go to www.waverlyfarmsvirginia.com or call (214) 914-0323. Buying a CSA share in late winter is important because farmers are making the capital investments for this year’s harvest now and the CSA model means they do not need to finance these costs with costly credit.
To learn more about National CSA Sign-Up Day and the CSA model, visit www.csasignupday.com.
