March 5, 2009 Issue
High Country CSA Offers More Shares, Looks for New Members
Do you know where your food comes from?
Thanks to High Country Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), 50 shareholders will have an answer to this question very soon. This newly formed group will organize and build upon a successful CSA, which has been offered by Maverick Farms for the past 3 years. As of last year, Maverick Farms CSA offered 30 shares for purchase. This year, the new organization—made up of 13 farms and supported by the ASU Sustainable Agriculture Department—will increase that to 50 shares, and will be known as the High Country CSA (HCCSA). If community members are interested in purchasing a share, there is still time to join. Payment or arrangements must be made by Sunday, March 15.
CSA began in 1965 by concerned mothers in Japan to the address the quality and availability of fresh, healthy produce. CSAs today have evolved into a more mature version of the original concept. The HCCSA will sell single shares for $500, providing produce such as lettuce greens, tomatoes, kohlrabi and many others to the families or individuals who purchase the shares. What is offered weekly is determined by what is in-season. Each week, as the food is harvested, it is weighed and divided by the sum of shares that have been sold. Shareholders will receive a weighted share of the produce each week.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture has agreed to allow EBT and SNAP to pay for partial payment of the shares. There is also a 4-month payment plan, which is being accepted as an alternative to paying the full sum at once.
Members can pickup their produce at Watauga County Agriculture Extension on Tuesdays from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. More scales will be available this year to help serve more people at once. After purchasing their share, each shareholder is asked to trade at least six hours of time helping on any of the 14 farms. This helps reduce cost and get the community involved in creating their own food shed. Since the cost of running this operation is higher than the sum of all the shares, HCCSA has received a grant to cover the remainder of the cost. Of course the goal is to sustain this program without grant funding, but it will take time and commitment from High Country CSA the farmers and you the community, according to a representative.
Franya Hutchins, coordinator of HCCSA said, “Maverick Farms is helping to facilitate the High Country CSA’s efforts between New River Organic Growers Co-op (NROG) and ASU’s Sustainable Agriculture Department to increase awareness and available shares.”
“NROG’s role is as liaison between ASU and the 13 privately-owned farms. The 13 farms that have chosen to participate are not only in Watauga but also extend to our neighboring counties. This helps bring a larger diversity to the produce which is available each week by taking advantage of the many small micro-climates we experience in the High Country,” said Angie Pate, marketing director for NROG.
For more information or to contact HCCSA about purchasing shares, email highcountryCSA@gmail.com or call Maverick Farms at 828-963-4656.
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