We may be in the grips of a cold winter, but Seacoast Eat Local will help you think Spring with our annual CSA Days at the Winter Farmers’ Markets in February. The CSA Day markets will be at Exeter High School on Saturday, February 8th and at Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford on Saturday, February 22nd — join us and find the CSA right for you!
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a style of agriculture shaped by the direct link between food producers and consumers. Through upfront payments or ‘share’ purchases, a consumer provides early season capital while the farm is able to plan and plant for a known market, offering fresh produce at allotted intervals throughout the season. With growing interest and participation, CSA programs have significantly expanded and diversified in the past several years — just check our latest CSA Days stats gathered from the 16 participating farms:
• 15 farms offer Vegetable CSA shares
• 7 farms offer Late Season, Winter, or Year-Round shares
• 9 farms offer optional Add-Ons including meat, bread, dairy products, maple syrup, seedlings, flowers, and more
• 5 farms are Certified Organic
• 7 farms offer Fruit in their shares
• 12 farms are in New Hampshire; 4 farms are in Maine
• The 16 farms offer CSA Pick-ups at 37 different locations
• Other options include traditional boxed shares, credit based shares, and local delivery or on farm pick-up
CSA Farms at Exeter High School on February 8th include Applecrest Farm, Brandmoore Farm, Brookford Farm, Heron Pond Farm, Meadow’s Mirth, Mildred’s Drumlin Farm, Orange Circle Farm, Red Manse Farm, Saddleback Mountain Farm, Stout Oak Farm, Wild Miller Gardens, and Willow Pond Community Farm.
CSA Farms at Wentworth Greenhouses on February 22nd include Bartlett Farm, Brandmoore Farm, Brookford Farm, Heron Pond Farm, Meadow’s Mirth, Mildred’s Drumlin Farm, Orange Circle Farm, Red Manse Farm, Saddleback Mountain Farm, Sirois Family Farm, Touching Earth Farm, Two Toad Farm, Wake Robin Farm, and Wild Miller Gardens.
“Joining a CSA program is a great way to directly connect with the local agricultural community,” said Leo Smock-Randall, Winter Market Manager for Seacoast Eat Local, “it allows you to get the freshest produce while supporting small business and keeping your investment in the local economy. Being a ‘shareholder’, and knowing how to buy shares UK, you join in the risks of the season alongside the farmer, yet gain a bountiful bonus of delicious produce at harvest and an added benefit of maintaining open space and active use of our precious local farmland.” Visit the CSA page at www.seacoastealocal.org to learn more about the CSA days and see the guide on questions to ask when picking a CSA that is right for you.
For a preview of CSA Days at the Winter Farmers Market >