A Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program is a great way for people to support local farms while buying organic produce. Each shareholder pays a subscription fee to buy a share of the harvest.
The fee goes toward the operating costs of the farm. In return, the farm supplies each subscriber with a weekly box of produce.
Full and half size shares are now on sale. The season begins Jun 13. Distribution will be every Wednesday from 5 – 8 pm, for 22 weeks, ending on Nov 7.
Registration closes on May 25. Please note that the season’s first pick up is on Jun 13.
Please see the Program Notes tab above for more information about how the CSA works.
What's in a Share?
Full vegetable shares: A full share provides 7 to 10 different kinds of organic vegetables per week: enough to feed two adults and two children. The organic produce you receive will vary each week depending on what is available throughout the growing season. A typical week might include: salad greens, kale, summer squash, eggplant, tomatoes, onions, carrots and radishes.
Half vegetable shares: A half share is enough to fees 1-2 and is picked up every week. Half share members should be aware that their shares may not always be exactly half the quantity of the full share. It may be a little more or a little less from week to week. Some items will be available on a first come, first served basis. For example, if a full share includes 1 eggplant and 1 squash, half shares may pick one or the other. If members who arrive at the beginning of distribution all choose eggplant, those arriving after the eggplants have been taken will get the squash. We recommend that people looking for the consistency of a full share, but a smaller quantity of produce split a full share with a friend, colleague or neighbor.
What do I have to do?
Members are required to:
- Pay for a full season. The farm can't accommodate month to month subscriptions.
- Pick up shares. If you are away or can't pick up your share, you may arrange to have someone else pick it up- just have that person give your name when he/she arrives. Leftover produce will be used by Cafe 92YTribeca.
- Volunteer to manage distribution during one 2 hour and 15 minute shift sometime throughout the season. If a member misses his/her scheduled volunteer shift without arranging for a replacement volunteer, that member will forfeit the share on the day of the missed shift and on the following distribution day.
- Understand that joining a CSA involves a certain amount of risk. Much like purchasing shares of stock in a company, member benefits are dependent upon the success of the farm. If crops are affected by certain uncontrollable conditions, like bad weather or crop disease, shares may see a drop in the usual amount or variety of produce. No refunds will be issued in the event of a bad season. Likewise, members may also reap the benefits of a particularly good growing season or bumper crop of produce.
Where and when do I pick up my shares?
Pick up will be every Wednesday between 5-8pm at 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson Street. The season runs June 13 to November 7, 2012 (22 weeks).
What does it cost?
Full vegetable share: $527.00
Half vegetable share: $277.00
Each purchase includes a $25 administration fee to help defray the costs of running the CSA, and a $2 facilitation fee to Just Food.
Still have questions? Send an email to CSADowntown@gmail.com.
This partnership has been facilitated by Just Food, a nonprofit organization that supports the development of CSAs in order to help New Yorkers connect with local farms and the high quality, locally-grown, affordable produce they provide. Just Food offers training, farmer matching, technical assistance, tools and resources to help CSAs start right and thrive.