Craving Juicy Tomatoes and Fresh Strawberries? Sign up Now for a CSA!

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Sick of the cold, snow and unseasonable weather? You're not alone.

If you want fresh, juicy heirloom tomatoes, berries and fresh picked produce this summer, now is the time to sign up for a CSA, said The Hickories farm owner Dina Brewster.

A CSA, Community Supported Agriculture, is a way for consumers to buy local, fresh produce directly from a farmer in the community. Community Supported Agriculture eliminate the middleman,paying an up-front fee for the season, which helps cover production costs, according to CT NOFA, which lists some of the benefits:

• Membership in a CSA keeps your food dollars close to home

• You have access to the freshest, highest quality, usually organic produce for your family

• You have greater diversity in your food choices – this means new taste experiences from a large variety of vegetables and herbs

• You can make going to the CSA farm a learning experience for your kids – teaching where and how our food is grown, and who’s doing all the work

"A lot of people aren't yet thinking yet about their August tomatoes but support for that starts now," Brewster told Patch.

"This is a make or break us time for us," said Brewster,"not only because of the weather, but because our budget is set by the CSA shares we sell right now. I know if I have the ability to hire and train up new farmers which is a very important part of this place. We grow food but we also grow farmers."

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The Hickories saw their first sprouts of asparagus and rhubarb sticking out of the ground over the last two weeks and their greenhouse is bursting with fresh kale, scarlet kale, cilantro, broccoli and much more.

The farm offers CSA year-round and new this year is their flower CSA.

The farm stand is currently open every weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Pickup for CSA is from 2 - 7 p.m. Beginning in May, the farm stand is open 7 days a week from11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

The Hickories is the only USDA certified organic farm in the area and is owned and operated by Dina Brewster. The farm and farm stand is located at 136 Lounsbury Road, Ridgefield. Call (203) 894-1851 or email info@thehickories.org to sign up for a CSA. Visit their website for more details.

Photos by Wendy Mitchell