Subscribe  |  Advertise  |  Archive  |  Custom Publishing  |  Contact Us  |  About Us  |  Log In  |  My Account

2011 Guide to WNY CSAs

Buying a farm share couldn’t be simpler, and with today’s climate of frequent food recalls and economic struggle, it also couldn’t be more sensible. WNY is home to more than 7,500 farms, most of which are small and family-owned. Over the last decade or so, the idea of being a season-long shareholder, and reaping the edible benefits of that relationship, has become increasingly popular. In the mid-1990s only one or two area farms utilized this business model (commonly referred to as a CSA, which stands for Community Supported Agriculture), but today area residents have at least ten such farms to choose from. Each CSA differs, from the crops it raises to the size and prices of its shares. Wise consumers will seek out the one that best suits their needs after examining issues like the amount of time required to clean and cook the weekly share and whether or not they wish to drive out to the farm to pick it up, or if they prefer a farm that offers a drop-off location closer to home.

Being a shareholder is an ideal way to incorporate the beauty of our local agricultural bounty into family meals, to increase your weekly consumption of veggies, and to support our regional economy at its roots—the family farm.

What many don’t realize is that CSA shares are typically sold out weeks (or even months) prior to the arrival of fresh crops at local farmers' markets and grocery stores. Spree wants to make sure you can take advantage of this opportunity before it’s too late, so we’ve compiled a guide to CSAs in the area.

Arden Farm—East Aurora
Share Schedule: Begins in early June, runs through mid-October
On-farm pick-up, limited home delivery, and a Buffalo drop-off
Number of Shareholders: 150
Share Size/Cost: $395 for two-person share, $590 for family share
Sign-up Information: Mail or farm visit
Crop Details: Sunstainably grown, with a variety of vegetables including the weekly addition of cooking staples such as onions and garlic.
Contact: 716-341-1268, theroycrofters@gmail.com, Arden Farm on Facebook
Additional Information: “Our crops are not just tasty they are beautiful.”

 

Busti Cider Mill CSA—Jamestown
Share Schedule: Begins in mid-May, runs 25 weeks
On-farm pick-up
Number of Shareholders: 50
Share Size/Cost: call farm for details
Sign-up Information: contact farm for registration form; deadline April 1.
Crop Details: Grows up to 150 varieties of organic vegetables
Owners: Bob & Judy Schultz
Contact: 716-487-0177, info@busticidermill.com, www.busticidermill.com

 

Canticle Farm—Allegany
Share Schedule: Begins in mid-June, runs 18 weeks
On-farm pick-up
Share Size/Cost: varies, see website for details
Owners: Franciscan Sisters of Allegany
Sign-up Information: Visit “Be a Shareholder” on website, sign up and pay online
Crop Details: Canticle offer shareholders a wide variety of certified Naturally Grown produce.
Contact: 716-373-0200, x3358; canticleoffice@yahoo.com; www.canticlefarm.org
Additional Information: Specific costs for 2011: Summer Participating - $295 small, $560 large. Summer Non-Participating - $325 small, $620 large. Fall - $90 small, $175 large. (Participating Shares –Shareholder families are given the opportunity to participate in the farm through a variety of service activities. Non-participating Shares – Shareholder families who choose not to participate in service activities will be able to purchase shares at a slightly higher price to help offset the additional labor costs.)

 

Fenton’s Produce—Batavia
Share Schedule: Begins in mid-June, runs 24 weeks
On-farm pick-up
Number of Shareholders: 100
Share Size/Cost: Estimated family of four/$395
Sign-up Information: Visit website; deadline May 1.
Crop Details: A wide variety of vegetables and blueberries, too.
Contact: 585-343-9491; fentonfarm@aol.com, www.fentonsproduce.com

 

Good Food Farm—North Java
Share Schedule: Begins in late June, runs 20 weeks
On-farm pick-up or drop off at Holland Farmers Markets
Number of Shareholders: 24
Share Size/Cost: Estimated family of 4/$450, Estimated family of 2/$250
Sign-up Information: Contact farm via telephone
Crop Details: Naturally-raised chickens are also available
Owner: Damien & Catie Huber
Contact: 585-535-0487; hubergoodfoodfarm@gmail.com; www.goodfoodfarm.blogspot.com

 

Native Offerings—Little Valley
Share Schedule: varies depending on share selected, summer share begins in late June and runs 22 weeks
On-farm pick-up or drop off at three Buffalo-area locations
Number of shareholders: 300
Share Size/Cost: Several options and sizes, including seasonal or year round, see website for details
Sign-up information: visit their website, click on “Registration” tab, see site for additional details
In their own words: “I think that we offer quite variety of options for people, meaning that when they pick up their share, they can tailor it to their own likes. It’s more like a farmer’s market-style…there are choices within the share, it’s not a box.”
Crop Details: In addition to produce, meat and fruit shares are also available. Native Offering uses sustainable farming practices.
Owners: Stew & Deb Ritchie
Contact: 716-257-3006; csa@nativeofferings.com; www.nativeofferings.com
Additional Information: “We have a lot of different type of greens. That’s really our specialty - cooking and salad greens.”
Specific Costs for 2011: Summer Share - $575 for full share, $370 for small share, $230 for individual. Four Seasons Share - $1050 full share, $660 small share, $420 individual share. July Start Share: - $500 full, $315 small, $210 individual. Winter Share - $475 full, $295 small, $190 individual.

 

Porter Farms—Elba
Share Schedule: Begins in late June, runs 22 weeks
On-farm pick-up or drop off at 18 locations throughout Erie & Niagara counties
Number of Shareholders: 900
Share Size/Cost: 10-12 lbs of produce per week/$320 per season
Sign-up information: No deadline, accepts check by mail, see website for additional details
Crop Details: Wide variety of organic vegetables
Owners: The Porter family
Contact: 585-757-6823; csa@porterfarms.org; www.porterfarms.org
Additional Information: “The bags are filled on Saturday morning from 6am to 9am. If you are a local member you may pick up any time after 9. If you can't make it before 11:00am we will put your bag in the cooler, where it will remain until you can pick it up. If you are a driver from Buffalo, we ask that you arrive between 9am and 11am, this will insure that the bags arrive at their drop off sites by 12:00pm. Buffalo area members will choose a pick-up site most convenient for them, and then will rotate driving to the farm to pick up the bags for their group. Depending on the size of the group, the members only have to drive between 1 and 3 times over the 22-week season.”

 

Promised Land—Corfu (sold out for 2011)
Share Schedule: Begins in mid-May, runs 25 weeks
On-farm pick-up or drop off at two Buffalo-area locations
Number of Shareholders: 200
Share Size/Cost: Estimated size will feed two adults/$400 per season
Sign-up Information: Visit website and download application.
Crop Details: Produce is cleaned and bagged. Promised Land offers a wide variety of sustainably-raised produce. “We grow a very wide variety, basically we say A to Z, from asparagus to zucchini. Everything is pretty much table-ready—washed, packaged.”
Owners: Daniel & Jane Oles and the Oles family
Contact: 585-599-3462; promisedlandcsa@gmail.com; www.promisedlandcsa.com

 

Just added!

Root Down Farm—Clarence
Share Schedule: Begins in early June, runs 22 weeks
On-farm pick-up
Number of shareholders:
Share Size/Cost: family share, $525
Sign-up information: Visit the website before June 6th
Crop details: Sustainable practices are in place, over 200 varieties of produce are offered.
Contact: 716-949-1204; csa@therootdownfarm.com; www.therootdownfarm.com
Additional Information: A winter share is also available, and the farm website contains a blog and recipes.

 

Roots & Wings Family Farm—Cherry Creek
Share Schedule: Begins in late June, runs 20 weeks
On-farm pick-up, or drop  off at Levant Wesleyan Church
Number of Shareholders: 30
Share Size/Cost: varies, depending on pick-up option selected
Sign-up Information: Visit website; deadline Mary 31.
Crop Details: Eggs are also available
Contact: 716-338-6153; rootsandwingsfarm@gmail.com; www.rootsandwingsfamilyfarm.wordpress.com
Additional Information: "We do a market style distribution.“ “Rather than getting a box of produce, you come to the farm or to the distribution site, and you have choices available. If there’s something you don’t like, you can trade it for something else.”
Estimated share size: “We don’t have a set pound or volume size, just depends on the week [it] varies each month. Feeds between two and four people depending on how many vegetables you consume.

 

Sweet Harvest CSA—East Aurora
Share Schedule: Begins in mid-June, runs 20 weeks
On-farm pick-up or one drop off location in Williamsville
Number of Shareholders: 40
Share Size/Cost: undetermined at press time, please find farm on Facebook or visit website for details
In their own words: “We are young and new at [farming], so we’re looking for shareholders that want to have more of a say in the establishment in the farm.”
Sign-up Information: Call or see website for details
Contact: 716-239-1121, www.sweetharvest.com

 

Thorpe’s Organic—East Aurora
Share Schedule: Begins in mid-May, runs 27 weeks
On-farm pick-up
Number of Shareholders: 400+
Share Size/Cost: Varies depending on when shareholders elect to begin
Sign-up Information: Fill out form online
Crop Details: growing 257 varieties of 57 types of organic vegetables
Owners: The Thorpe Family
Contact: 716-655-4486; www.thorpesorganicfamilyfarm.com
Additional Information: "‘Small’ shares are designed for 1or 2 people, and all of the pre-picked veggies you receive will be limited. You may also pick all you need for canning and freezing of: tomatoes (full sized & cherry), peas and string beans. There will be no unlimited pre-picked vegetables for small shares this year. ‘Large’ shares are designed for three or more people (over age 5). They will receive larger limited amounts of certain already picked veggies and often unlimited amounts of plentiful ones, such as potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, summer squash, or any number of things which are yielding well on their pick-up day. They also get unlimited “pick your own” for canning & freezing of: tomatoes (full size & cherry), peas and string beans.”

 

 

**Be sure to check our archives for the most recent version of this guide.