Community supported agriculture

July 7, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Membership is picking up

By Natalie Lariccia

With its third season under way, Grow Youngstown’s Community Supported Agriculture program continues to sprout, providing Mahoning Valley residents with a bounty of fresh, locally grown produce.

In addition to this year’s Community Supported Agriculture program, Grow Youngstown’s officials hope to expand further and extend the health and economic benefits of locally grown produce to more local residents with its Healthy Food Access program.

The Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program meshes local farmers and program members, providing the members with weekly fresh produce deliveries.

The CSA is offered by Grow Youngstown, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable growth of food in the Youngstown area.

Individuals who participate in the CSA program sign an 18- to 21-week agreement with a participating farmer and receive a variety of eight to 12 pounds of fresh produce each week for a cost of about $22 a week during the participating growing season.

The produce is provided for weekly pickups at designated locations in Youngstown and Warren and typically feed a family of two adults and two children.

The Healthy Food Access program, meanwhile, is a pay-as-you-go 18-week subsidized program for qualifying households that is based on family size and income. The HFA program was created through funding from the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Program and will help to provide fresh produce to Youngstown and Warren neighborhoods that lack an abundance of stores that carry fresh foods. The Ohio Direction Card is also accepted.

Elsa Higby, Grow Youngstown executive director, said the CSA program has grown since it was started in 2008. In 2009, 36 members participated in the program, and between 55-60 members have enrolled for the 2010 season. Although weekly deliveries have already begun, the program still has availability to accommodate additional members. As long as there is availability, members can join the CSA at any point, and rates will be prorated.

Higby said she thinks the CSA program is expanding because of increased public awareness about the benefits of eating fresh produce and supporting the local economy.

“People understand this food is great for nutritional content. The food is picked the very day it is picked up,” Higby said.

By participating in the CSA, people are consuming fresh food that has traveled a shorter distance to reach customers, and the CSA supports the local economy because the money transferred stays in the local economy, Higby said.

“We’re trying to get people aware of local produce, and the fact that if they buy from the CSA, they are keeping the money in the (Mahoning) Valley. Everything stays here. These farmers work really hard,” said Amber Foster, Grow Youngstown’s promotion and distribution manager.

This year’s three participating farms — the Crowe Family Farm, Red Basket Farm and Early Road Gardens — are all area farms.

“It also introduces people to foods they might not normally eat. You come once a week, and you pick up either a box or bag of surprises,” Higby said

Recipes incorporating ingredients from weekly pickups are provided to members, and the program will also feature periodic cooking demonstrations featuring seasonal vegetables.

For more information on the CSA or HFA programs, call 330-286-0688 or visit www.growyoungstown.org.