Farm Fresh Produced Delivered to the Neighborhood

Last summer after several years of complaining about disappointing tomatoes and tasteless grocery store produce, I decided to purchase a farmshare.   Farmshares are part of a growing movement by family farmers to market their harvest directly to the individual consumer.   A farmer will sell a set number of shares for his season’s harvest, the buyer receives a weekly box of farm fresh produce.  The amount of the produce depends on the size of the share and the point in the season.  Some farmers offer home delivery for an additional fee; some require you to go to a central pick-up point each week.

The growth in farmshares is fuel in part by the current interest in healthy eating and the desire to support local businesses.  Produce that is farmed locally is fresher, tastes better, and tends to have a lower impact on the environment.   Having the share delivered to your home or neighborhood is another attractive perk of farmshares.   Additionally, a local farmshare brings with it the piece of mind of knowing where your food is coming from.   

 For 20 weeks last summer, my family received weekly deliveries of produce from Shallowbrook Farm in Boyce, VA.  Each Wednesday was a little like Christmas with the big question—what would come in my farmshare box this week?  Even my teenage boys enjoyed finding out what delicious treasures came the box.  During the season, we got tomatoes, zucchini, yellow summer squash, beans, peaches, plums, cucumbers, lettuce, apples, pears, pumpkins, strawberries, broccoli, bok choi, cabbage, and potatoes.  Each week was different, but there generally was a mix of fruits and vegetables.  I will admit that I was introduced to some new produce, which I had never tried before.  As a family we discovered that we like bok choi and really loved the yellow lemon tomatoes. My eldest son discovered that he really liked fresh peaches. Susan Keene, one of the farmers, sent weekly recipes to help us prepare the wonderful produce.   When the season was over in October, we really missed our weekly deliveries. 

 You may wonder if a farmshare is economical.   I found it competitive with buying fresh produce at the farmers market.  For roughly $32/week we got more than a weeks worth of fresh produce for our family of 4, which includes two teenage boys.   Most farms will offer full shares and ½ shares.  Some will offer single shares for one person.  The cost also depends on the farm, whether is it certified organic, and the types of produce the farmer plants.

 For more information about local farm shares visit www.localharvest.org.

 This year we again purchased a share from Shallowbrook Farms.  We got our first shares last week—juicy Virginia strawberries, sweet peas, and beautiful broccoli. Eric Keene, the farmer, has offered to let my house in Hayfield be a delivery point for the Hayfield/Kingstowne area.   The advantage this has is that anyone who picks-up their share from my house would not have to pay the $50 /season delivery charge.  For more information about Shallowbrook Farm visit www.shallowbrookfarmfresh.com or email Eric Keene at  shallowbrookfarmfresh@gmail.com.  If you are interested in joining the co-op you may contact me at Jlepfaff@aol.com.