Fort Greene CSA in the Works

Fort Greene residents, particularly on Myrtle Avenue, have limited options for purchasing fresh produce, and some have limited access to supermarkets entirely. With the demolition of the Associated Supermarket at Myrtle and Prince last year, food access near downtown Brooklyn has only become worse. MARP has partnered with FUREE and Just Food to lay the groundwork for organizing a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) group as a means to improve access to fresh produce, in particular for residents of Ingersoll and Whitman houses, as soon as possible. A number of local organizations have joined the CSA’s steering committee to support this effort and to help us reach the broadest audience possible. These include the Ingersoll and Whitman Tenant Associations, Fort Greene Association, NYC Parks Department, the Fort Greene GreenMarket, the Clinton Hill CSA, Councilmember Letitia James’ office, and the organizing group of the Fort Greene Food Coop. We hope that the Fort Greene CSA will be just one of many innovative food programs in the community, and that it will provide an opportunity to build a stronger sense of community among all residents of the area. We are planning to offer programming like cooking demonstrations, education workshops, pot-lucks, and competitions that will make the CSA distribution site more than just a place to pick up vegetables - CSA will be a meeting place for neighbors who share a common interest in a better quality of life.

What is CSA?
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a type of "food buying club" that enables community members to know the farmers and farms that produce their food through a direct purchasing relationship between local farmers and members. Members agree to purchase a season's worth of produce before the harvest season begins. In turn, they receive a weekly "share" of the harvest during the local season (late June - November). This agreement benefits the farmers by guaranteeing them a market for their produce and providing capital at a time when they need it most. Members benefit by receiving the highest quality produce at an affordable price.

What kind of vegetables will you get?
One week's CSA share will usually contain between 7-10 different types of vegetables. Local farmers grow everything from lettuce and tomatoes to garlic and tomatillos, so you will never get bored with your share. Shares will start out light in June with lettuces and fresh herbs and grow heavier over the season, ending with items like squash, potatoes, carrots, and onions in the late fall.

Is CSA expensive?
Actually, it's very reasonably priced. We took a typical weekly share from a CSA last year and compared it to local grocery store prices. CSA vegetables, which were freshly harvested and grown without pesticides or synthetic chemicals of any kind, cost approximately the same as the not-so-fresh foods that were grown with pesticides and herbicides available at nearby stores. Compared to the organic vegetables at Whole Foods, Fairway, and Pathmark, the CSA is significantly less expensive.

Sample CSA share:
1 handful of basil
2 large tomatoes
1 head of cabbage
4 heads of broccoli
4 cucumbers
5 zucchini
1 bunch of swiss chard
1 cauliflower
1 handful of greens

Local Options ------------------------ Weekly Cost
CSA (organic, pesticide-free) -------------- $19
Bravo (conventionally grown) ------------- $18.64
Fairway (conventionally grown) ----------- $25.15
Fairway (organic) --------------------------- $51.99
Garden of Eden (conventionally grown) -- $33.76
Garden of Eden (organic) ------------------ $36.26
Pathmark (conventionally grown) --------- $24.86
Pathmark (organic) ------------------------- $34.09
Whole Foods (organic) ---------------------- $43.07

Details about membership and share prices will be available very soon. Please visit www.fortgreenecsa.org to join the mailing list. If you are interested in getting involved in CSA organizing efforts, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact Jen Datka at jendatka@fortgreenecsa.org.