What could be better than offering your family the best of local produce this summer, without having to grow it or shop for it every week? Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center in Yorktown Heights is offering a share of their season's harvest to Westchester residents through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program once again this year.
CSA is a form of direct produce marketing in which a community of individuals pledges to a support a farm.
Here's how it works: At the beginning of the growing season, CSA members pay for a subscription; in return, farmers provide the members with a weekly share of the harvest. Both growers and consumers benefit from this arrangement: members receive fresh, local produce and have the satisfaction of knowing from where their food originates, while farmers get money up front to purchase seeds and supplies at the beginning of the season.
At Hilltop Hanover Farm, every Tuesday from June through October, CSA members can take their pick of farm fresh vegetables grown right on location. Each share includes portions of the farm bounty, including summer favorites like tomatoes, onions and carrots, along with a selection of chefs' picks like chard and beets. And, of course, Hilltop Hanover employs only organic and sustainable farming methods to ensure products that are healthy, nutritious, tasty and grown responsibly.
The price for one CSA share is $630 for the season, or approximately $30 per week, and all items come fresh picked. In 2011, all shares were fully subscribed, and this year, in addition to access to produce, several events will be planned for members allowing them to become part of the farming community and to make a connection with farm staff.
For more information or to subscribe to the CSA, call (914) 962-2368 or send an e-mail to .