The Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA-NY) is excited to announce The 1st Syracuse Region Community Supported Agriculture Fair:  a unique opportunity to meet area growers, learn about their farms, products, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)  – and sign up for the upcoming season!

Compare different CSAs side-by-side to find the one that’s right for you.   Erwin United Methodist Church at 920 Euclid Avenue will be host to this family-friendly, educational event on Saturday March 19 from 1-4pm. 

This fair is produced with help from Slow Food CNY. Drop in for a 15 minute mini-workshop on <How CSA Works>, <Cooking with the Seasons> , or <Food Storage Tips>.  There will be activities for the kids – so bring them along, too!

What is CSA?

What if you could get a season’s worth of produce directly from a local farmer?  You can!  Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is becoming a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food straight from the farmer who grows it. Here’s how it works: a farmer offers a certain number of “shares” of the farm’s bounty for sale at the beginning of the season. Typically, the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included, like eggs or fresh bread.  Consumers purchase a membership and in return receive a weekly share of produce each week throughout the farming season.   You get the freshest produce, picked at the peak of ripeness – not shipped from across the country or stored for weeks.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a unique economic relationship because it is a partnership between consumers and farmers.  Consumers contract with farmers before the growing season begins, and agree to share the risks and rewards of growing food in their local climate. Farmers are free to practice the art of sustainable farming because they are guaranteed a market and an income; consumers receive fresh, just-picked local produce and the satisfaction of helping to keep local farms in business. Each CSA, like every farm, is different and this fair will allow you to find the best fit for your household.

Sound interesting?  You can learn more about CSA, meet farmers, compare CSAs side-by-side, and sign up for the 2011 season at the Syracuse Region Community Supported Agriculture Fair!

This event is sponsored by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) through a Specialty Crop Block Grant from NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.  NOFA-NY is a statewide non-profit organization of farmers, gardeners, consumers, and businesses established in 1983 to create a sustainable regional food system which is ecologically sound and economically viable.   NOFA-NY brings consumers and farmers closer together to make high quality organic food available to all people. For more information about this fair email Kristina at the Northeast Organic Farming Association : kristina@nofany.org, or visit our website:  nofany.org/csafair.

Angela will be selling her produce at the Wescott Farmers Market at the Westcott Community Center on Wednesdays from 3pm-7pm starting on June 9th.  She also plans on occasionally selling at the Manlius Market on Sundays, noon-4pm starting June 6th.  The Manlius Market is located behind Sno-Top off Arkie Albanese Ave.

Stop by, introduce yourself to Angela, and help support a new farmer!