New CSA Delivers the Farm to Your Family

For busy families who might have not time to make it to the farmer's market, but who enjoy buying local, organically grown food, the new volunteer-run, non-profit West Essex CSA offers a new option.

The new group will offer to members biweekly pick-ups of Jersey Fresh, naturally grown vegetables, fruit, eggs, and meat at the Essex County Environmental Center in nearby Roseland.

CSA is short for Community Sponsored Agriculture. Simply put, a CSA is a subscription program.

At the beginning of the growing year, you pre-purchase a "share", or portion, of what the farmer will grow that year. Just like a magazine that arrives once a month in your mailbox, a CSA typically has deliveries at a central location throughout the growing season.

Interested members are encouraged to sign up immediately with the first delivery scheduled for June 22. with complete membership details and farmer information.

Every two weeks, members will go to the Environmental Center and pick up a half-bushel bin filled with six to nine different vegetables and fruits. The amount and types of food will vary each pick-up, and grow in quantity and variety as the growing season progresses.

The program is being co-coordinated by volunteers JJ Bruno and Jackie Lowe, both of Livingston, with the support of Environmental Center director Tara Casella.

Members can choose to buy a either a vegetable share from Cedar Creek Farms in Johnsonburg, a fruit share from Tree Licious Orchards in Port Murray, or both.

There is also an optional pre-order program for eggs, chicken broilers, cheese and other specialties from Hoffman Farms in Newton.

All three growers practice natural, non-chemical growing methods without chemical pesticides, fertilizers, or antibiotics.

Casella told Patch that the idea for the Environmental Center to host a CSA was born after Ken Hoffman, the owner of Havenwood Farms, sold his eggs, chickens, and cheese for several years at the Center's annual Octoberfest event.

The sales were so successful that customers asked Hoffman if he could arrange for regular deliveries to the Roseland area.

To make this possible, Hoffman contacted Bruno, one of his regular customers, to see if she would be interested in coordinating a CSA.

Bruno agreed, and asked her fellow Livingston resident Lowe to be her co-coordinator.

The Essex County Environmental Center agreed to host the program as a service to Essex County residents.

"As the host site, the Essex County Environment Center is happy to provide this opportunity for the community to access Jersey Fresh, locally grown products and support local growers," said Casella.

Bruno said that each delivery will feed a produce-eating family of four for about a week with just-picked local food produced without chemical sprays, fertilizers and pesticides.

"Members can expect to get a lot for their money," said Bruno. "There's no one in the middle between them and the farmers and there are less costs for transportation and storage."

The first June delivery may include lettuces, spinach, broccoli, snow peas, radishes and possibly summer squash.

This CSA might be for you if you're looking for an affordable and convenient way to buy seasonal naturally grown food, and if you want to directly support New Jersey farmers who keep our state's agricultural land open and productive.

What would be easier than simply collecting your pre-packed bin on delivery day, and perhaps enjoying the Environmental Center's programs, nature trails and exhibits while you are there?

As the saying goes: if you like to eat, thank a farmer. Joining a CSA is a great way to do just that.

For more information, call JJ Bruno at (973) 632-5356,  Jackie Lowe at (973) 885-1468, or by e-mail at westessexcsa@yahoo.com.