Open Daily:
Mon-Sat 8am - 6pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm
Location:
550 Asbury Road
Churchville, MD 21028
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Brad’s Produce CSA Program
CSA Shares for the 2010 season can be reserved now. No literature found. See pricing and other important information here:
CSA Pricing Options for the 2010 Season (74 KB)
New for 2010 - our "Hereford Branch!"
Are you interested in joining our CSA but just don't live close enough? This year, we are adding an additional pick-up location in the Hereford area! The Hereford options differ from our home farm options, so be sure to read the registration form. Or email your Hereford host, Susan Carbaugh, at susancarbaugh01@aol.com for more information.
Hereford CSA Pick Up location:
We are happy to announce one pickup location beginning in May and continuing into the fall.
Beginning May 20th, the pickup location will be 16938 York Rd ( at the former Hereford seafood store) just north of the Monkton Rd. traffic light.
No literature found.
About CSA
Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is a means of purchasing fresh food directly from a local farm. The consumer buys a share of the farm's products prior to the growing season. In turn, the shareholder receives weekly distributions of produce as the season progresses. Fresh, safe food is becoming a scarcity in our lives. The majority of produce in today's grocery store has traveled on an average of 1300 miles from its source and is several days old before reaching the store shelf. This is one of many hidden costs in today's food system. Buying locally ensures you of fresh food; it ensures the viability of local farms, preservation of open space and keeps purchasing power in the local economy.
This year Brad's Produce is continuing with our own CSA. You, as a consumer, have the opportunity to purchase a share in the produce that is grown on our farm for the season. We grow a wide variety of approximately 40 different kinds of fruits and vegetables harvested from May through October (There is a complete list of produce and the approximate months they will be available on the product availability page). Members will receive a variety of produce harvested at its peak of ripeness, flavor, vitamins and mineral content. You will be able to pick up your share at our farm in Churchville. After you have chosen the right size share and we have received your payment you will be notified of when the first pick up will be. All shares are harvested, processed and packed as close to the pick up dates as possible.
After someone has chosen the right share size for them and we have received their first payment they will be on our email list. All major events are posted to all shareholders through email unless one doesn't have email. For more information, see our CSA Frequently Asked Questions below.
All shares are harvested, processed, and packed as close to the pick-up date as possible.
New options for the 2010 CSA Season!
- Regular Season CSA
- Runs from mid-May through the end of October
- Receive a wide variety of produce from each growing season - spring, summer and fall
- A full share is picked up weekly
- A bi-weekly half-share is the same amount of produce as a full-share, but picked up every other week
- A weekly half-share is picked up every week with half the amount of produce as a full share each time.
- Early Spring Share
- Runs from April 22-May 13
- Receive a weekly share of asparagus, spinach, spring mix lettuce, radishes, spring onions, pea tendrils, and possibly some potted herbs or farm fresh local eggs!
- Be a part of the new crops that we'll be planting for early spring options. Help us choose the next best thing in local produce!
- Summer Share
- Runs from July 15-September 2
- Receive a wide variety of produce from our summer crops
- Picked up each week
Pricing
CSA Pricing Options for the 2010 Season (74 KB)
Regular Season CSA
Register between Dec. 1, 2009 and May 1, 2010:
- Full-Share $475
- Bi-Weekly Half-Share $275
- Weekly Half-Share $300
Register after May 1, 2010: There will be a $25 late fee on all registrations after this date
Early Spring Share
MUST register by January 15
- $100 and no late fee if you decide to sign up for the regular season CSA
Summer Share
Register between Dec. 1, 2009 and May 1, 2010: $200
Register after May 1, 2010: There will be a $25 late fee on all registrations after this date
The CSA FAQ:
Where did the idea of CSA come from?CSA really got started in the mid-60’s in Japan. A group of Japanese women were concerned about pesticides, processed foods and diminishing local food sources. Sound familiar? As a group, they re-connected with local growers they could trust and the concept was born. They called it the Teikei movement, which translates to partnership or cooperation, but members, say it means “food with the farmer’s face on it”.
CSA came to the United States in 1986, when Jan Vandertuin brought the idea back from his travels in Switzerland. He and Robyn Van Eyn began their first CSA in Massachusetts. They told people they could “share the costs to share the harvest.”
What does a share consist of?An example of a regular spring season share box is:
1 bag of spinach
1 bag of lettuce
2 quarts of strawberries
1 bunch of broccoli
1 bundle of asparagus (1 lb.)
1 bundle of spring onions (6)
1 bunch of radishes
An example of a regular summer season box is:
1 dozen ears of corn (13 ears)
6 tomatoes
3 green peppers,
1 quart of green beans
1 quart of squash and zucchini
6 peaches
1 large heirloom tomato
1 bunch of carrots
An example of a regular fall season box is:
½ dozen ears of corn (7 ears)
6 tomatoes,
1 heirloom tomato
1 bag spinach
2 bulbs of garlic
7 apples
1 acorn squash
1 head of cauliflower
2 pounds of potatoes
These are examples of what you would find in your share box. Please check our availability list below for other items that you may receive.
How long does the CSA season last?From Mid-May through October
Where and when do I pick up my box?The shares are picked up on Tuesdays between 10am and 6pm or Thursdays between 10am and 7pm at our farm in Churchville. A pick-up day will be assigned to you prior to the first pick-up.
What if I'm on vacation?You can have a friend pick it up or we'll donate it to a local food bank
What do I do with the extra produce?Please see the recipe blog on our website for seasonal recipes and freezing instructions. Also watch for announcements of our canning classes for spring, summer and fall produce.
What if I can't make it there on pick-up day?We strongly recommend picking it up on your pick-up day or having someone pick it up for you. However, if you just can't make it one day, we'll hold your box until the next day if you call and let us know. It will still be the box that was prepared on the pick-up day though. Because of the time and labor involved every box is prepared on the morning of the pick-up day.
Where can you learn more about CSA?Elizabeth Henderson, another pioneer in the CSA movement who is a leader in CSA farming today, wrote an excellent book about CSA called Sharing the Harvest. Robyn van Eyn contributed to the project but died suddenly in 1997 before completing the book.
How to join Brad's CSA
If you are interested in joining this program for 2010, please print the form available below and mail to Brad's Produce at the address below after December 1, 2009. Limited shares will be available on a first come, first served basis. If you have any questions, please email us at bradsproduce@gmail.com.
No literature found.Note: You will need the Adobe PDF Reader to view and print the form. Download the free version here.
Produce Schedule: Below is the range of product availability. This list is not in alphabetical order, rather chronological order.
Asparagus April - June Bok Choi April, May & October Spring Onions April - June Strawberries May - June Peas May - June Garlic Scapes May Turnips May Lettuce May - June & October Radicchio May - June Spinach April - June & October Garlic June - October Broccoli June & October Cabbage June & October Edamame July & August Squash June - September Cucumbers June - September Zucchini June - September Beets June - October Carrots June - July Candy Onions July - September Eggplant July - September Leeks September - October Lima Beans July - October Green Beans July - October Tomatoes July - October Heirloom Tomatoes July - October Specialty Tomatoes July - October Peaches July - September Cantaloupes July - September Seedless & Regular Watermelons July - October Specialty Melons July - September Sweet Bell Pepper June - October Hot Banana Pepper June - October Sweet Banana Pepper June - October Sweet Corn July - October Jalapeño Peppers July - October Apples August - October Sweet Potatoes August - October Pumpkins September - October Decorative Gourds September - October Cauliflower October Kale October Spaghetti Squash September - October Winter Squash September - October