It has been a difficult winter to be a produce farmer. Ice , snow and rain have turned fields and pastures into a swampy mucky mess. Temperatures as much as 30 degrees below average have made it impossible to begin planting on schedule, and we are now nearly three weeks behind. The cold weather has finally broken but with a solid week of rain. We will not be able to begin planting until the field dries out. UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO NOT EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO BEGIN DISTRIBUTING PRODUCE THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL AS PLANNED. At this point in time, we hope to start the spring CSA on April 22nd for Wednesday shareholders and April 25th for Saturday shareholders. It could be earlier, and it may be later. We simply will not know until we are able to get started in the field.
As farmers, we assume a lot of risk. The greatest risk is always bad weather and this winter has been a perfect storm. The CSA concept is designed to share that risk between us, the farmers, and you, our customers. We will do our best to make it up to you in two ways. First, we will try to boost the value of the remaining weekly spring share boxes to make up half of the value of the weeks we miss.
The other half of the value of however many weeks are missed will be credited to your account. This credit can be used towards your next CSA payment, for produce from our farmers market stand, or for whole broiler chickens. The exact amount of the credit will depend on which week we are able to start the CSA.
We will save April eggs for egg share members and distribute extra eggs over the first few weeks of the CSA, so there will be no reduction in value for egg share members. Broiler chicken share members will receive their April chicken on the first week of the CSA.
Thank you for your support and understanding. And one last thing, we could really use some help! The delays caused by the weather mean that once we are able to start planting, we will have a month’s worth of work to accomplish in a week’s time! If you are available to come lend a hand anytime starting the week of March 16th we would be happy to put you to work.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions or concerns, and we will keep you up to date on our progress.
