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It’s time for our annual roundup of Community Supported Agriculture organizations.
CSAs, one of the hottest food trends going, match growers with people who want to eat local food.
Programs vary from one grower to another. Some establish a set fee when members sign up. In return, customers get a season’s worth of whatever local products farmers supply.
Others want their customers to help out on the farm. Some do farm tours and kid-friendly activities.
The payoff is that customers get to know the farmers and the farmers get a guaranteed source of income.
For more information about local CSAs, log on to the Kansas City Food Circle Web site (kcfoodcircle .org) and link to Kansas City CSA.
Or check out the 10th annual Exhibition of Farmers. The first will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 29 at the Shawnee Civic Center, 13917 Johnson Drive. The second takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 5 at the Roger T. Sermon Community Center, 201 N. Dodgion St., Independence.
There will be chef demos at noon, plus plants and farm-fresh products to buy, including meats, eggs, dairy and vegetables. Admission and parking are free.
How do I find a CSA?
The following Community Supported Agriculture organizations are accepting members for 2008:
HEN HOUSE MARKET GROWERS ALLIANCE CSA
All 12 Hen House locations; go to Web site, henhouse.com or goodnatured.net
Season: Sign-up begins in April; season runs May 31 to Sept. 22.
Pickup: Saturdays or Monday evenings.
Cost: $25 membership fee; $25 weekly for bag of locally grown products including meat, milk and bread.
HUNS GARDEN
5440 County Line Road, Kansas City, Kan., 913-671-7316, HunsGarden.com
Season: May 14 through October.
Pickup: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays.
Cost: Full share, $325; half-share, $175. 70 percent deposit due by April 15. Balance due May 10.
HOMESTEAD FARMS
13130 Homestead Lane, Olathe, 913-856-7412, jaywr@planetkc.com
Season: Late June through late August.
Pickup: Saturdays at the farm.
Cost: About $15 per week, depending on what subscriber wants. CSA members can pick their own flowers at no cost.
J-14 AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRIES
4600 Sortor Drive, Kansas City, Kan., 913-287-3365
Season: April through October.
Pickup: U-pick gardening at your convenience.
Cost: $200 for 500 pounds of produce, including corn, onions, okra, broccoli, peas, kale, mustard, turnips, cabbage, pole beans, yellow squash, radishes, black-eyed peas.
JJ FARMS
8531 E. 81st Terrace, Raytown, 816-356-3938
Season: Mid-May through October.
Pickup: At the farm, in Brookside and in Prairie Village.
Cost: $300 for an individual, $375 for couples, $450 for family.
MAIER’S FARM
2365 Oregon Road, Ottawa, Kan., 785-242-5638, maierfrm@kanza.net
Season: April to November; meat offered year-round.
Pickup: Home deliveries once a month.
Cost: Varies.
MOON ON THE MEADOWS
1515 E. 11th St., Lawrence, 913-269-4672, JElmers@CFAConsulting.com
Season: May 6 through Oct. 14.
Pickup: Tuesdays: 6 to 7 p.m. at 14827 W. 95th St., Lenexa, and 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 913 N.E. Colbern Road, Lee’s Summit. Midtown delivery probable.
Cost: $14 per week; $336 per season.
THE ORGANIC WAY
Route 1, Box 104, Milo, Mo., 417-944-2818, danddmay@aicon.net; theorganicwayfarm.com
Season: Mid-May through October.
Pickup: Brookside/Waldo (TBA) and 10561 Mission Road, Leawood.
Cost: $25 per week; season is $660. An upfront deposit is $235.
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