Why a Winter CSA?
That’s an easy question. The Good Food Collective wants to provide the Rochester community with local, sustainably grown fruits and vegetables all year round. Due to the fact that winter is not exactly the most productive season for our farmers, we will be offering a variety of frozen, stored, and fresh produce from local and regional farms as well as additional local products such as eggs, meat, and bread. We hope that the Winter CSA will allow us to continue to expand our product offerings while evaluating the possibility of processing fruits and vegetables right here in Rochester.
Why is the Good Food Collective offering Winter Sun Farms products?
Winter Sun Farms (WSF) works with a network of small farms in the Hudson Valley in New York State to source summer produce which is then processed, frozen, and distributed during the winter. We have teamed up with WSF to supply regional, frozen fruits and vegetables to the Rochester Community while we study the feasibility of setting up processing facilities here in Rochester. While the frozen products aren’t local, they’re certainly regional, making a very minimal carbon footprint compared to most frozen produce which is shipped in from other states or even countries.
Is the food organic?
Most of the 15-20 farms WSF works with are certified organic, but some of the smaller ones are not. They are un-certified organic CSA’s or Certified Naturally Grown. If WSF required all farms to be USDA Certified Organic they couldn’t work with the smaller farms. Last year for example the blueberries came from a wonderful u-pick farm and were completely no spray. All other berries come from organic farms.
Also this year frozen corn will be offered. On a large scale corn is to tough crop to grow strictly organic, but WSF has been working with the farms to use low spray or no spray methods. In short, all of the farms are organic except for the no-spray blueberries and corn.
The Good Food Collective storage and fresh products will come from our same group of sustainable growers, some certified organic, some using organic practices but not certified, and some IPM fruit producers.
What if I am out of town or forget to pick-up my share?
The GFC recommends that anyone that knows they will miss a distribution day should prearrange to have someone pick the share up for them or have that person take it home themselves.
The GFC will be able to provide some opportunity for picking up a share later in the day or at another location, but members will have to contact us to arrange that.
How do I work towards getting my workplace or community location as a distribution location?
For employers, employees, or community members interested in having their workplace or community location become a distribution location, CONTACT US so we can begin the conversation. In so doing, our team is able to work with your business or organization to see if a necessary level of interest exists and what the most convenient and effective distribution process could be.
How can I support Good Food for All?
The GFC seeks to work in collaboration with community, business, and foundation support to offer subsidized membership in the GFC for low income individuals and families in Rochester.
Please CONTACT US to learn more about the program and how you may be able to support this important effort