By Neil B. Miller | January 23rd, 2011
It’s difficult to imagine in mid-January that Spring is just around the corner, but the days are in fact getting longer, the sun already feels a bit brighter, and farmers have ordered their seeds for 2011 and are thinking about seedlings and tunnels and the season’s first plantings. Supporters of local farming in Central New York, in turn, should to be thinking about whether they are going to participate in a CSA program in 2011, and if so which CSA they are going to join.
To assist everyone in their decisions, Farmshed CNY is publishing a series of articles over the next month or so that will provide up-to-date information on 2011 CSA programs in Central New York and the Finger Lakes, as we obtain information from different farms and update our records. All of the CSA listings in the Farmshed directory (i.e., the iPhone app), will also be updated with this information.

Diane Eggert of Cobblestone Creek Farm, standing in front of a 2010 weekly "Harvest Share" pick-up.
One of most noteworthy aspects of CSA programs in Central New York is the range and diversity of plans and options available to consumers. Some CSAs are small and extremely personal, developing a close relationship between a small grower working a few acres of land and a dozen or so shareholders who pick-up their weekly shares at the farm, and may even need to U-pick or work at the farm. Other CSAs have many 100s of members and deliver throughout the state, even down to New York City.
This diversity shows up as well in what each farm grows, how they grow it, how long their CSA runs, and what they charge for their shares. Certified and non-certified organic, and IPM (Integrated Pest Management) farms; vegetable, fruit and meat producers all offer CSAs, with some programs running just a few weeks, and others running the entire year.
Given this diversity, it pays to do a bit of research, and to find a CSA that best suits your needs and budget. And keep in mind, many CSA members renew their shares year-after-year, so that the most popular CSAs – even the largest ones – may already be full before the season begins, or may only be able to take on a few new members.
When it comes to selecting a CSA, the sooner you decide which program is right for you, the sooner both you and the farmer benefit: you gain the satisfaction of knowing that you are getting the product you want, grown the way you want, from a farmer you know and trust, while the farmer gains the security of knowing that much of his or her produce is bought and paid for before they even plant the first seedling. Folks who wait until March or April to select a CSA program will almost certainly find that many, perhaps most of the CSAs they were considering are sold out for the season. And if you think Spring feels a long way off, imagine being put on a waiting list till 2012. You snooze, you lose out on some great locally grown produce.
I hope everyone will consider joining a CSA in 2011. The benefits to you, your family, local farmers and the local economy are well documented, and the risks are minimal. CSAs bring us closer to the people who grow our food, to the land itself, and to each other.
I also hope this list of 2011 CSA programs is helpful in deciding which program is right for you and your family. And remember, if you have questions, contact the farmer! They should be glad to hear from you and answer your questions.
1. AJ Greenleaf
208 Genesee St, Cayuga, NY 13034
Certified Organic and Non-Treated Vegetables
Abbott Greenleaf
Website: http://www.localharvest.org/aj-greenleaf-M33869
Tel. 315-253-7512
AJ Greenleaf is offering 20 CSA shares in 2011. Their CSA program runs 20 weeks beginning the 4th week of May and costs $340. They also offer an Extended Harvest share that runs 24 weeks and costs $360.00, which must be purchased before March 1; and a Camp Special share from Memorial Day to Labor Day that costs $260.00. No work is required at the farm. Weekly pickup is at the farm.
2. Alambria Springs Farm
834 Musician Rd, Earlville, NY 13332
Organic and Biodynamically Grown Vegetables and Herbs
NOFA-NY Farmers Pledge Farm
Amy Yahna & Brian Musician
Website: http://www.alambriafarm.com/blog/
Tel: 315-837-4769
Email: womandance@frontiernet.net
Alambria Springs Farm is offering 80 CSA shares in 2011. Their CSA program runs approximately 24 weeks, from the first weekend of June through November. They offer a number of different CSA share and pickup/delivery options:
Full Family Share: A full bushel basket of produce weekly – $640.00
Split Share: A full bushel basket split with your partner – $320.00 each
Couples Share: Three quarters of a bushel of produce weekly – $515.00
Pick-up and Delivery Options:
Mix & Match Pick-up at the Farm, Saturday or Tuesday
Pre-packed Box Delivery in Hamilton, Tuesday afternoon/evening; The Copper Turret in Morrisville, Thursday 3-7pm; Norwich, Saturday 5-8:30pm. Delivery charges may apply. For details and additional information please visit their website.
3. Ambrosia Farms
Box 463, Bridgewater, NY 13313
Naturally grown vegetables and greens
Nina and Gene DeBar
Website: http://www.natlnutrients.blogspot.com/
Tel: 800-221-9755
Email: ambrosiafarmsny@yahoo.com
Ambrosia Farms Multi-Farm CSA offers 20 weeks of fresh vegetables for $195.00. Shareholders select or “UPick” their own weekly share of fresh vegetables and fruit as they are seasonally available. Poultry, ducks, eggs, baked goods and products from neighboring farms are also available for additional purchase.
4. Bella Farms
Lafayette, NY 13084
Organic vegetables
Cameron Terzini
Website: http://www.bellafarmsny.com
Tel: 315-552-4650
Email: cameron@bellafarmsny.com
Bella Farms is a new farm, and is offering 40 CSA shares in 2011. Their CSA program runs for 20 weeks and costs $495.00, which is payable in three installments of $165.00 each. Weekly shares can be picked up at the farm, at the Syracuse Regional Market, or home delivery can be arranged. Shareholders register on-line on the Bella Farms website.
5. CSA CNY/Grindstone Farm
780 County Route 28, Tinker Tavern Road, Pulaski, NY 13142
Certified Organic Fruits and Vegetables
Website: http://www.grindstonefarm.com/Go.aspx/CSA
Tel: 315-298 4139
Email: customerservice@grindstonefarm.com
Grindstone Farm, one of Central New York’s flagship organic farms, offers one of the largest and most diverse CSA programs in the region, with a broad range of share options for different needs and budgets:
Early Bird Spring Share: $165 (5 weeks, May 12-June 9)
Full Season Share: $565 (20 weeks, June 14-Oct 27, 5% discount if ordered by April 18)
Academic Share: $250 (8 weeks, Sept 6-Oct 27)
Winter Season Share: $250 (8 weeks, Nov 3-Dec 22)
Working Share: $565, ($415 after reimbursement; 20 weeks, June 15-Oct 28)
Additional Specialty Shares:
Egg Share: $60 (20 weeks, June 14-Oct 27)
Flower Share: $80 (10 weeks, Aug 11-Oct 13)
For more information on share options, terms and delivery location, please visit their website.
6. Cobblestone Creek Farm
7350 Collamer Rd., E. Syracuse, NY 13057
Vegetables
Steve & Diane Eggert
Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/E-Syracuse-NY/Cobblestone-Creek-Farm/433783315105
Email: cobblestonecreekfarm@gmail.com
Cobblestone Creek Farm offers a 24-week CSA “Harvest Share” program that begins June 14 and continues to Thanksgiving. A Full Share feeds a family of four and costs $600; a Half Share feeds two adults and costs $300. Shares are picked up at the farm Tuesday afternoons, and additional produce is available for purchase at pick-up.
7. Common Thread Community Farm
3424 Lake Moraine Rd, Madison, NY 13402
Organic Vegetables
NOFA-NY Farmers Pledge Farm
Chris Babis & Amy Brown
Website: http://www.commonthreadcsa.com
Tel: 315-893-7767
Email: info@commonthreadcsa.com
Common Thread Community Farm offers CSA shares from June to mid-November, with two delivery options: a Local Share for $495.00, which members pick up on the farm, and mix-and-match from each week’s seasonal produce; and a Delivered Box Share for $525.00. Deliveries are made to Syracuse, Fayetteville, Manlius, Cazenovia and Clinton. The farm shop also offers for sale locally produced food and personal care products.
8. Daring Drake Farm
7726 Rock River Rd, Interlaken, NY 14847
Organic Fruit
NOFA-NY Farmers Pledge Farm
John Reynolds and Shannon O’Connor
Website: http://www.daringdrake.com/
Tel: 607-532-4956
daringdrake@zoom-dsl.com
UPDATE 1/24: Daring Drake Farm’s 2011 Fruit CSA is already sold out for the season. They are taking names for their 2012 waiting list.
Daring Drake Farm operates a 30–share fruit CSA in the Ithaca/Finger Lakes region, which typically sells out every year. As of right now, they still have shares available for 2011. Their CSA program runs 20 weeks, from mid-to-late June to early November. The cost is $270.00 with a $50.00 non-refundable deposit required to secure a share. Weekly pickups are Friday at the farm, and Tuesday and Saturday at the Ithaca Farmers Market. Duck eggs, jams and jellies, and other farm products, including their new Blackduck hard cider are also available for purchase.
9. Early Morning Farm
9658 State Route 90, Genoa, NY, 13071
Organic Vegetables
NOFA-NY Certified Organic Farm
Anton Burkett
Website: http://www.earlymorningfarm.com
Tel: 315-364-6941
Email: info@earlymorningfarm.com
Early Morning Farm offers a 23-week CSA share program, beginning the first week of June and ending the first week of November. Shares are priced by the number of adults in the household: Two Adults, $506; One Adult is $391, and each additional adult is $115. There is a 2% discount for full payment.
The farm offers a “free choice” style pick-up at the Ithaca Farmers Market and at the Montessori School of the Finger Lakes located between Auburn and Skaneateles. Each week a few items are limited, but other than the limits members choose what they need for their household for the week. They also offer a pre-boxed share delivered to pick-up locations in Aurora, Lansing, Ithaca and the farm. Sign-up for a CSA on their website.
10. Ever Green Farm.
5942 Old Lake Rd, Rock Stream, NY 14878
Organic Vegetables
NOFA-NY Certified Organic Farm
Joe & Joely Zerbey
Website: http://www.evergreenfarmonline.com
Tel: 607-243-3613
Email: info@evergreenfarmonline.com
Ever Green Farm’s CSA Program runs 21 weeks from June to October. 30 Full Shares of organic vegetables are available for $425.00; Half Shares for $225.00; and a Fall Student Share (September & October) for $160.00. They also offer an Egg Share for $73.00, which adds one dozen eggs to an existing share, and a Chicken Share of 12 chickens per season for $220.00.
Pickups are at the farm on Sunday and Monday; the Geneva Farmers Market on Thursday, and the Ithaca Farmers Market on Sunday. There is no work requirement. For more information or to download a membership application, please visit their website.
11. Greyrock Farm CSA
6100 East Lake Rd., Cazenovia, NY 13035
Organic vegetables, raw milk, eggs and pasture-raised beef, pork, lamb and chicken
Matt Volz
Website: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/pages/Greyrock-Farm-CSA/159941280717659
Tel: 484-888-6254
Email: mcvolz10@gmail.com
Greyrock Farm CSA is a new year-round, 52-week CSA that will begin in June 2011. In addition to offering seasonal, organically farmed vegetables and winter/storage crops, the farm will provide organic-feed eggs, raw milk, and grass fed, pastured beef, lamb, pork and chicken. For 2011, Greyrock Farm CSA will offer 30 adult shares, and an unspecified number of children’s shares.
2011 CSA share prices are as follows:
Individual: $3,000.00 for the year, or roughly $58.00 per week.
Couples: $5,800.00 for the year ($2,900 per individual), or roughly $110.00 per week.
Families: $2,800 per adult. Children under 3 years old are free. Children age 4 are $100.00 per child; ages 5 and above are an additional $100.00 per child for each year over age 4 (age 5 is $200.00; age 6 is $300.00, etc.)
The payment schedule for the 2011 CSA program is as follows:
$500.00 due at the time of sign-up
March, 2011: 40% due on outstanding balance
June, 2011: 20% payment due
September, 2011: 20% payment due
December, 2011: 20% payment due
Members pick up their shares every Friday at the farm. A share is not a specific size or choice between certain products. Instead, each member’s share is the amount of food that member thinks he or she can eat in a week. Each member chooses what to take and what not to take. Everything produced on the farm that week is made available to the members
12. High Point Farms
9448 State Route 96, Trumansburg, NY 14886
Natural Beef, Pork & Chicken
Tina and Robert MacCheyne
Website: http://www.highpointfarms.net
Tel: 607-387-4950
Email: tina@highpointfarms.net
High Point Farms is a year-round meat CSA. CSA shares include grass-feed beef, pastured pork, and free-range chicken. High Point Farms offers two six-month CSA seasons: December to May, and June to November. A Family Share costs $540.00 and consists of 12-13 pounds of meat, a dozen eggs and a half-pound of local cheese once a month; a Basic Share costs $330.00 and consists of 6-7 pounds of meat, one dozen eggs and 1 (8oz) pack of cheese once a month.
Pick-ups are monthly at the farm, and in Ithaca, Rochester and the New York City area.. For additional information on share sizes, and general information about a meat CSA, please visit their website.
13. Ithaca Organics
85 Simms Hill Rd., Dryden, NY 13053
Organic Vegetables
Trever and Monica Sherman
Website: http://www.ithacaorganics.com
Tel: 607-844-3435
Email: IthacaOrganics@aol.com
Ithaca Organics’ CSA program runs from June to November. They offer a Large Share for $500.00 that provides enough fresh produce for a family or household of four; and a Small Share for $375.00 for a two-person household. Pickup is at the farm on Thursday or the Ithaca Farmers Market on Sunday. Home delivery is also available for a $7.00 fee.
14. Karin’s Organic Produce
2466 Bernice Blvd., Binghamton, NY 13903
Organic Vegetables.
Karin Fuehrer
Website: http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M29400
Tel: 607-772-0976
Karin’s Organic Produce CSA offers Full and Half Shares from May through September. A Full Share costs $25.00/week, and a Half Share costs $15.00/week. There is a 10-week minimum. Weekly shares are picked up on Friday at the farm or can be delivered. No work is required.
15. Kestrel Perch Berries
220 Rachel Carson Way, Ithaca, NY 14850
U-Pick Fruit
Katie Creeger
Website: http://www.ithacaberries.com
Tel: 607-275-0272
Email: ithacaberries@gmail.com
Kestrel Perch Berries’ 2011 CSA includes strawberries, summer red raspberries, black raspberries, black and red currants and (possibly) gooseberries. The program runs from June through July. 200 CSA shares are available costing $100.00 a share for non-working members. A 3 hour-per-season work commitment is strongly encouraged and receives a $25.00 member discount. Members pick their own fruit at the farm on Tuesday/Wednesday or Friday/Saturday. Call or email Katie Creeger for additional information.
16. Lamb’s Quarters Organic Farm
213 Pierce Rd, Plymouth, NY 13832
Organic vegetables
NOFA-NY Farmers Pledge Farm
Drew Piaschyk & Sandy Pierce
Website: http://lambsquartersorganicfarm.com
Tel: 607-334-3481
Email: lambsqfarm@frontiernet.net
Lamb’s Quarters Organic Farm does not offer a standard CSA program. Instead, shares are tailored to the needs of individual customers. They grow certain vegetables under contract to individual shareholders. Pricing depends on what produce is desired, in what quantity, and on the level of involvement shareholders wish to have in the process. The farm offers free delivery between Plymouth and Norwich.
17. Linda’s Crispy Fresh Garden CSA
47 Hamilton Road, Brooktondale, NY 14817
Vegetables
Linda Crispell
Website: http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M27501
Tel: 607-539-6646
Linda’s Crispy Fresh Garden CSA is offering 25 shares for their 2011 CSA program. The CSA runs approximately 20 weeks from mid-June through October. A Full Share costs $500.00 and provides enough produce for a family of four; a Half Share costs $275.00. Members may pick and choose from seasonally available produce. Pickups are at the farm on Tuesday and Friday. Members are welcome to volunteer at the farm, but no work is required.
18. Norwich Meadows Farm
105 Old Stone Road, Norwich, NY 13815
Organic Vegetables
NOFA-NY Certified Organic
Zaid Kurdieh
Website: http://www.norwichmeadowsfarm.com
Tel: 607-336-7598
Email: norwichmeadowsfarm@Yahyoo.com
Norwich Meadows Farm runs CSA programs in Norwich and the greater NYC area, and offers both a Summer and Winter Share Program. The Summer Share runs for 20 – 22 weeks, approximately June 1st to the first or second week in November. The Winter Share runs for approximately 12 weeks, from December to April. The cost of the shares are $300.00 for an Individual and $600.00 for a Family Share. Members wanting more than a Family Share can purchase additional shares at $300.00
There are also Meat, Chicken, Dairy (milk, cheese and yogurt), Egg and Fruit Shares available. These shares are additional. For additional information and pickup information in Norwich, please contact the farm.
19. Old Path Farm
9035 Grange Hill Rd, New Hartford, NY 13413
Vegetables
Nancy Grove
Website: http://www.localharvest.org/old-path-farm-M12549
Tel: 315-737-8621
Email: vegetables@riseup.net
Old Path Farm is offering 75 CSA shares in 2011. Their CSA runs from June through October. A CSA share costs $500.00 and provides enough produce for 2-4 people. There are some U-pick items (beans, peas, cherry tomatoes, herbs and flowers). Pickup is at the farm on Monday. Although work is not required, volunteers are welcome.
20. Our Green Acres
3965 Waverly Road, Owego, NY 13827
Vegetables
Website: http://www.ourgreenacres.com
TeL; 607-687-2874
Email: frankwiles@aol.com
Our Green Acres offers a Farmstand CSA that runs from May to October. CSA members buy a share, which entitles them to select seasonal produce at the farmstand, and U-pick some vegetables for free at the farm. A $125.00 share entitles a member to $135.00 worth of produce; a $250 share entitles a member to $280.00 worth of produce. Mid-season renewal rates are $125.00 for $135.00 worth of produce, and $200.00 for $220.00 worth of produce. A member’s account is debited when they select produce. Members can select their weekly share either at the farmstand, or at the Owego and Vestal Farmers Markets.
Our Green Acres also offers year-end specials for CSA members. In the fall, surplus crops such as grape tomatoes, regular tomatoes, potatoes, winter squash, etc., will be discounted to CSA members for 50% off.
Tags: Cooperstown, CSAs, Farmers Markets, Finger Lakes, Ithaca, Oneonta, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica