Early-bird special is available for NJ organic produce program

HOWELL -- It may be brutally cold outside now, but it is never too early to plan for the spring and sign up for your local, organic Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program right here in Howell.

Inflation has been devastating so take advantage of an early-bird special by paying for your share option in full before March 1 and save a few bucks.

Organic produce will once again be supplied by Jersey's own Farmer John Krueger and his amazing Circle Brook Farm.

For other CSAs in New Jersey and New York participating in this program, visit yourlocalcsa.com for contact details.

For the 2022 growing season, there will be a 24-week delivery program at a designated site in Howell, with anticipated deliveries beginning the week of June 10 and ending Nov. 18.

There is a one-time $15 membership fee in addition to the following share price options.

1. A premium share is $900 (or $860 before March 1) and contains an average of 10-12 different organic items for 24 weeks. This share also includes more quantities of the different items than in a basic share.
2. A premium half share is $450 (or $430 before March 1). Pickup is every other Friday. You and a share partner will alternate pickup weeks, each getting 12 weeks total.
3. A basic full share is $750 (or $720 before March 1) and contains an average of 9-10 different organic items for 24 weeks.
4. A basic half share is $375 (or $360 before March1). Pickup is every other Friday. You and a share partner will alternate pickup weeks, each getting 12 weeks total.
5. A pre-bagged medium share is $600 (or $580 before March 1) and contains an average of 9-10 different items and half of the quantity of many items in the premium share for 24 weeks. Includes cost of bagging produce.
6. A pre-bagged half medium share is $300 (or $290 before March 1) and contains an average of 9-10 different items and half of the quantity of many items in the premium share. Pickup is every other Friday. You and a share partner will alternate pickup weeks, each getting 12 weeks total. Includes cost of bagging produce.

Fruit and egg shares are also available!

If you are purchasing a produce share from above, you do not need to pay another $15 membership fee.

However, if you are not purchasing a produce share, but would like to buy just fruit and/or egg shares, you will need to submit a one-time $15 membership fee along with the following prices.

1. Fruit is $250 for 15 weeks.
2. Eggs are $130 for 24 weeks.

During the course of the program, participants can expect to receive a diverse number of healthy vegetables and fresh herbs.

Depending on the growing season and weather conditions, items may include arugula, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, cucumber, daikon, eggplant, garlic, green beans, green onions, hot peppers, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, parsnips, peas, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, salad greens, shallots, spinach, squash, swiss chard, tomatillos, tomatoes, turnips, zucchini and more.

Melons and watermelons may also be included.

Members can also take advantage of a separate organic mushroom purchasing program that was recently launched.

Members can buy Matawan-grown mushrooms on a weekly basis (or less frequently depending on their needs). The cost is $10 per pound, and varieties have recently included Oyster, Blue Oyster, Lion's Mane and Chestnut.

For details of this organic mushroom program, email: howellcsa@gmail.com.

To learn more or to sign up with a CSA close to you, visit yourlocalcsa.com.

Read our blogs and articles and then scroll down to view signup forms for 2022. Contact information is also provided for each local CSA if you have any further questions.