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2012 Potato CSA are SOLD OUT!

If you would like to be put on a waiting list for a Potato CSA, please email us and we’ll let you know at harvest time if we can fix you up with a bulk buy of potaotes!  For more frequent updates and news feeds, like us on facebook or subscribe to the blog.

Chefs, food cooperatives, wholesalers, distributors, schools and food lovers alike, please get in touch if you’re interested in purchasing some potatoes, beets, carrots, or other root crops in 2012!

Email: earthapplefarm(at)gmail.com

What is a Potato CSA?

Well, first let us begin by defining CSA…

Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) has been a way for consumers to buy local and seasonal food directly from the farmer for almost 30 years. Recently there has been a huge revival of this buying method with all types and variations of CSAs springing up.  At the beginning of a growing season a farmer will offer membership shares for his/her product to the public.  Typically it is a seasonal vegetable box delivered or available for pick-up each week, but new types of CSAs have been forming.  You may have heard about the Urban Grains CSA or Skipper Otto’s CSF (Community Supported Fishery).  There are different modes of operation and costs associated with the CSA depending on the product.

Producers and consumers share in the benefits and pleasures of fresh food as well as the risks associated with farming.  In exchange, the consumer receives a share of the best of what is produced that year.  CSAs help ensure that independent, small-scale producers remain in an industry, which is rapidly becoming dominated by big business.  This model also helps farmers, especially new farmers, with seasonal start up costs.  For a more comprehensive definition of Community Shared Agriculture, check out: Local Harvest.

A potato CSA, as with a grain CSA, has a harvest time that happens mostly all at once, but the product can be stored for long periods of time if done properly (refer to the Storage Page for instructions on how to store your potatoes).  CSA members pay for their share at the beginning of the growing season and receive a variety of potatoes all at once, which they can put away into storage.  Another option would be to purchase a bulk potato share to divide up with friends and/or neighbours.