Don't forget that Fresh Gatherings' Harvest CSA program is now accepting membership agreements for the 2013 season! Still on the fence? Here's a quick FAQ guide to help you decide!
Q: How long does Fresh Gatherings' Harvest run?
A: The 2013 Fresh Gatherings' Harvest season begins Friday, May 17 and runs through Friday, October 25, for a total of 24 weeks.
Q: How much does it cost to become a member?
A: Members choose to sign up to either a half share or a full share. A half share costs $550 ($22.92/week) and a full share costs $850 ($35.42/week). This price includes all the locally grown food, labor expenses for our CSA employees, plus a small fee for packaging supplies.
Q: How many people does a share feed?
A: In general, half shares feed 2-4 people per week, while full shares feed 4-8 people per week, depending on your weekly vegetable consumption.
Q: Will I be able to feed my family with the food I pick up every week?
A: There are mainly fruits and vegetables in the shares. When you come to pick up your CSA share each week in Fresh Gatherings, there will be the Fresh Gatherings' Harvest Market where additional goods will be available for purchase, as a supplement to your CSA share. Goods for sale include ground beef and turkey, milk, eggs, yogurt, rice, bread (made in-house at Fresh Gatherings Cafe), popcorn, and additional seasonal produce - all of which is locally grown or produced. One stop on a Friday evening will have many of your weekly need covered.
Q: Where does the food come from?
A: The produce comes from a handful of farmers in the greater St. Louis area. Past farmers that have contributed to our CSA shares include: Berger Bluff Farm, Yoder Farm, Yellowwood Farms, Buttonwood Farm, Theis Farm, Lee Farms, Ozark Forest Mushrooms, Weidner Farm, Echo Valley Orchard, Blue Heron Orchard, St. Isadore Farm, and SLU's very own Gardens to Tables Teaching Farm (located 2 blocks from the CSA pickup location)!
Q: How do I pick up my share each week?
A: CSA members pick up their produce each week at Fresh Gatherings' Cafe which is located in the Allied Health Professional Building on SLU's Medical campus. The shares will be available for pick-up on Fridays from 3:30 PM until 6 PM.
Q: How do I sign up?
A: If you are interested in joining Fresh Gatherings' Harvest for the 2013 season, we ask that you contact the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at veggie@slu.edu. We will invite you to informational meetings held at Fresh Gatherings, answer any other questions you may have, provide you with a membership agreement that all members are required to sign, and process payments. (We accept cash, credit cards, checks, and Flex dollars.)
Q: When do I need to decide?
A: Commitments for the 2013 season must be made by
Monday, May 6, 2013.
Images from the SLU Garden Archives:
Late Spring Strawberries,
Jalapenos and Tomatoes,
Beans, beans, beans
