THE FARM OFFERING SUMMER CSA SHARES
Woodbury, CT - For the fourth year, Woodbury’s The Farm, will offer shares in their summer
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. The 18-week summer or 28-week summer/winter
subscriptions are intended for people who are looking for fresh, locally produced alternatives to
buying produce at the grocery store. Enrollment is open now through March 31, or when all spaces
are filled.
“People want to have their foods produced closer to home,” explains Michael Berecz, one of the
three brothers from The Farm. “It’s hip, it’s trendy, and everyone wants to claim they’re a
‘locavore.’ But many don’t understand what ‘locavore’ really means, and some, in a rush to jump on
the bandwagon, get duped.
Shares in a CSA are purchased before the planting season starts. This provides the capital for the
farmer to purchase seeds, growing supplies, equipment, and cover other overhead costs when their
cash flow is the lowest. As crops are picked, all shareholders receive a portion of the harvest.
The Farm selects the variety of produce offered based on local growing conditions and the length of
the program. “You’re not going to have everything every week. Some crops grow quickly; others need
the whole summer to ripen. Subscribers share in the success, or failure, of the season. “It’s as
close as you can get to being a farmer without getting your hands dirty.”
However, the benefits to the community and environment are what make a CSA important.
One definition of ‘locally produced’ is food grown within one-hundred miles of its point of sale.
“For us, in the Woodbury area, this means that anything grown in Connecticut, and parts of
Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and even Rhode Island would be considered local. Not only does
this leave behind a larger carbon footprint, but your produce could be over a week old by the time
it gets on the store’s shelves.” explained Berecz. “‘Miles closer and days fresher’ is not some
cliché; it’s something you can actually taste.”
Berecz explained that some of these ‘local’ farms are huge enterprises. “They lack the ‘hands on’
feel that small growers have. Like other local farmers, my family and I live in the town where we
farm. We spend our money in these towns. You know and trust us.”
Trust is a key issue to Berecz. “There are now small farm stands selling what they call ‘CSAs’. In
reality, it’s commercially grown product bought through a wholesaler.” He says the main tip-off is
finding out-of-season produce in your baskets. “You won’t find eggplant until July. You won’t find
winter squash until September. If you find them in your June baskets, they’re probably not grown
around here.”
Carole Peck, owner of Carole Peck’s Good News Café, sources a lot of her produce
from The Farm. “Having been at the forefront of preaching farm to table, I can
attest that I know their fields and what crops they produce. It’s all done with
respect for the land and their customers.”
To help those new to eating locally, The Farm produces a series of videos showcasing each week’s
bounty, and maintains a library of “In the Farmer’s Kitchen” programs that demonstrate recipes
using its own vegetables. “We’ve received great feedback on these videos. It helps our shareholders
plan how to use their basket.”
In addition to either the “Family Basket” or the “Basket for Two” (a smaller version of the Family
Basket), there are also add-ons for fruit, eggs, and fresh flowers available. Signups for The
Farm’s CSA can be made at Woodbury Floral
Design, or through their secure website, thefarmwoodbury.com.