by Lex Thomas
In these days of increased consumer awareness about the benefits of purchasing and consuming locally grown comestibles, the concept of the CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, is growing in popularity in both rural and urban areas. By participating in a CSA, consumers are purchasing a “share” of a farmer’s harvest at the beginning of the growing season, and receive their “share” of the farm’s output weekly throughout the season.
According to David Chandler, whose family has owned Meadowbrook Orchards since it was founded in 1912, CSAs help farmers to defray often staggering costs while providing participants with farm-fresh produce at a cost that is often significantly lower than supermarket prices over the course of a season.
“People usually don’t realize what it costs farmers to grow their crops,” he says. “The idea behind a CSA is to give farmers an upfront income source at the start of the season to help offset our expenses.”
Chandler says it costs Meadowbrook Orchards about $200,000 each year in labor, materials, and upkeep – such as mowing, pruning, and spraying – to grow apples. And in spite of meticulous planning and care, the risk of disaster is always present.
“A few years ago, five minutes of hail destroyed 70 percent of our crop in one section of the orchard,” he recalls. “That risk is always there. It’s something we deal with day in and day out throughout every season.”
Even if the weather cooperates and crops thrive, payment for produce delivered is rarely immediate. As a wholesaler, Chandler says he can’t expect payment from his customers in under six weeks, and sometimes a lot longer.
“When apples leave our farm, we’re not paid for them for weeks, or even months,” he says. “Here we are in the middle of 2015, but we’re still collecting payment for our 2014 crop.”
At Meadowbrook, participants can sign up for the CSA program and pay $300 for a “share” of the crop, which entitles them to a weekly supply of seasonal fruits from July until late October, starting with blueberries and raspberries, then peaches, plums, and apples later in the season.
“In the end, our customers will get more than $300 worth of fruit,” says Chandler. “Even if there’s a week when the yield is lower than usual, there will be other weeks that it’s a lot higher. That’s just the reality of farming.”
Chandler is already working with Shamrock Hives Farm to provide grass-fed beef, and naturally-raised pork and chicken, and would be happy to find other farms ready to offer CSAs through Meadowbrook Orchards.
“A lot of people want one-stop shopping,” he says. “I want to make that as accessible as possible.”
In addition, Chandler continues to offer daily breakfast and lunch menus that change to reflect seasonal produce, and frozen prepared foods, such as chicken parmesan, chicken cordon bleu, beef and turkey pot pies, buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese, and twice baked potatoes, that customers can take home with full reheating directions. Frozen fruit pies, tea breads, apple dumplings, and dinner rolls are also available.
“Everything is made here from our own recipes,” says Chandler. “It’s all made with TLC, and with the best ingredients we can source. I try to let my employees be creative with the foods we prepare. It makes them happy, and it makes our customers happy.”
Meadowbrook Orchards is located at 209 Chace Hill Road, Sterling. For more information, menus, and a schedule of events, visit meadowbrookorchards.com, or call 978-365-7617.