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Health & Fitness

Food for Others and Community-Supported Agriculture

Great Country Farms in Bluemont practices community-supported agriculture. CSA farm shares can also be donated to supply needy local families with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Here’s another way you can support Food for Others: donate to us your produce from your membership in Community-Supported Agriculture.

Many CSA members receive more vegetables than they can eat themselves so donating their surplus to needy families fights local hunger while supporting local farms. Or you can buy a full CSA membership for Food for Others.

If you are already a CSA participant, you know what we’re talking about. If not, this is how the USDA describes CSA:

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“In basic terms, CSA consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community's farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production. Typically, CSA members or 'share-holders' pledge in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation and farmer's salary. In return, they receive shares in the farm's bounty throughout the growing season, as well as satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land and participating directly in food production. Members also share in the risks of farming, including poor harvests due to unfavorable weather or pests. By direct sales to community members, who have provided the farmer with working capital in advance, growers receive better prices for their crops, gain some financial security, and are relieved of much of the burden of marketing.”

There are over 400 CSAs nationwide now, with many here in our region. Shareholders can donate some or all of their bounty to needy local families, through groups like Food for Others. For example, Great Country Farms
(18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont, VA, 20135, 540-554-2073) advises
members purchasing a share for donation that they have two options:

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  • Members can use the pick-your-own rights to provide for their family, but have the weekly produce delivered and donated to groups like Food for Others;
  • Members can have all the bounty from your share delivered to groups like Food for Others

Great Country Farms has already worked with non-profit food services by allowing members to purchase a share for donation, with all the produce delivered direct to the non-profit.  The cost per share would then be the discounted rate of $489
for the season. 

Great Country Farms is just one of many CSA farms in our area. The Virginia
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website lists 41 CSAs in the
Northern Virginia /Shenandoah Valley region.

Food for Others is in particular need of fresh produce this summer. Budget cuts have eliminated our access to the USDA’s Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, MD. Many of our families have little access to fresh fruits and vegetables because they live in so-called food deserts, far from supermarkets. CSA members would be making a great contribution by sharing their bounty, this year more than ever.

For all information about donating or volunteering for Food for Others, call
Nikki Clifford at 703-207-9173, or you may go to foodforothers.org.

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