Community Supported Agriculture programs are an excellent way to ensure you’re getting the freshest provisions around while sustaining local famers. North Fork farms are gearing up for the start of their spring and summer CSAs, which typically run through the fall and are stocked with the ripest, just-picked fruits and vegetables the season has to offer.
But boxes of produce aren’t the only farm fresh products available through CSA membership. Fresh cut flowers, culinary and medicinal herbs, and meat and eggs subscriptions are also available at select North Fork farms.
Here are a few non-veggie CSAs to consider this season.
North Fork Flower Farm
This subscription plan guarantees there will be fragrant, fresh cut flowers in your home each weekend. The current spring CSA, which runs from the weekend of May 4 through the weekend of June 14, includes seasonal varieties of daffodils, anemones, alliums, ranunculus and tulips. The cost for the seven-week program is $130, if you pick up at the Orient farm, or $172 to have it delivered locally to your door. Delivery is available to Orient, East Marion, Greenport or Southold on Friday afternoon.
North Fork Flower Farm also offers summer and fall CSA programs as well as a flower of the month membership program, if you don’t want to commit to a full season.
Learn more at northforkflowerfarm.com, or visit them at 1110 Terry Lane in Orient.
Herricks Herbs & Heirlooms
This Jamesport farm on Manor Lane has several ways to participate in its 2019 CSA-style herb share, which runs from June through October. The plans start at $25 for a basic membership and go up to $190 for a premium membership.
The program allows members to choose from dozens of types of herbs grown at the farm, such as dill, parsley, sage, rosemary and more. Members can also hand harvest their own bunches on select dates.
Learn more at herrickslanefarm.com or visit them at 81-91 Herricks Lane in Jamesport.
Feisty Acres
From June through November, Feisty Acres in Southold offers a selection of fresh poultry or game birds in addition to quail, duck or chicken eggs. There is a lot of variety in the offerings, which change each month and could include quail, guinea fowl, silkie chickens, heritage chicken and chukar partridge.
The $500 per month meat and egg share comes with perks. CSA members get 10% off any meat, eggs or merchandise purchases outside their regular share and the farmers provide recipes and cooking tips for the provisions. Members also receive a heritage breed Thanksgiving turkey in November.
There is an option to pick up your share at the farm in Southold, or on Wednesdays at the Union Square Greenmarket or Saturdays at Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket.
Learn more at feistyacres.com, or visit them at 45375 County Road 48 in Southold.
