Local produce pickups begin June 2

High Country CSA hosted by Bare Essentials Natural Market

Pickups of local High Country produce begin Tuesday, June 2, on the front walk of Bare Essentials Natural Market for members of High Country Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).

Five last memberships are still available before the CSA reaches its maximum capacity of 50 members for 2009. A member share will provide a variety of vegetables each week for 20 weeks, designed to accommodate a family of four. Friends can also split a share. Local meat, eggs and fruit will be available, as well, to members at the pickup site. The cost of a share is $500 this year, and can be broken up in payments. To subscribe, contact coordinator Franya Hutchins at highcountrycsa@gmail.com or (828) 963-4656.

In a CSA, community members pre-buy produce from a farm or group of farms in advance, and then collect produce during the growing season. CSA has proven an attractive model for making small-scale, locally oriented farming economically sustainable.

This is the launch year of the High Country CSA, which will be providing food from more than 14 area farms. Each farm adheres to organic growing methods, and many are organically certified. The New River Organic Growers Cooperative is providing the bulk of the growers, along with Appalachian State University’s Sustainable Development Farm. The season runs 20 weeks, beginning June 2, with weekly pickups continuing through October.

Maverick Farms of Valle Crucis began this project, building off of the success of running its own single-farm CSA since 2005. A grant award from the N.C. Rural Center is supporting Maverick Farms in facilitating this larger project.

“Since we are grant-supported for 2009, all of our income goes straight to the growers,” coordinator Franya Hutchins said. “We are also fortunate to have Bare Essentials Natural Market in Boone volunteer to host the weekly pickups.”

The CSA will be providing approximately 50 different types of vegetables to its members over the course of the season, including tomatoes, collards, salad greens, carrots, baby bok choy, eggplant, multiple varieties of squash and peppers, as well as herbs like basil, parsley and cilantro. An example of a single week’s supply in July is comprised of: 1 head lettuce, 1.5 pounds red potatoes, ½ dozen green onions, 2 pounds zucchini, 2 heads green garlic, 1 bunch chard, 1 pound broccoli, 1 pound cabbage, and 1 bunch parsley.

The main goal of the High Country CSA is to expand the connection between local farmers and eaters in the community, providing a stable market for small and new growers in the area. This will also broaden access to local food, creating a vibrant food community. Local farmers interested in providing for the CSA in 2010 are also encouraged to contact the coordinator, as the project plans to expand both in number of members and growers in following seasons.

To participate, contact coordinator Franya Hutchins. Shares are sold in advance only, and the first pickup will be held June 2, so time is of the essence. For more information, e-mail highcountrycsa@gmail.com or call (828) 963-4656.