Written by Kaitlyn Foley
Have you ever wished for access to fresh fruits and vegetables straight from a farm instead of the grocery store? Well, look no further than Farmer Dave’s. Farmer Dave’s is a farm in Dracut, Massachusetts that grows a variety of vegetables and fruit, and makes bakery items too. Other than the farm itself, the business can be found at farm stands and in local famer’s markets as well. Farmer Dave’s operates under a CSA model, which stands for community supported agriculture. Instead of selling produce to grocery stores, a CSA is a membership that provides individuals with vegetables and fruit, depending on what plan they choose. Right now, the farm has 2021 bakery shares, 2021 spring shares (an assortment of fruits and vegetables), 2021 summer fruit shares, 2021 summer vegetable shares, and 2021 late fall shares (an assortment of fruits and vegetables). These “shares” are the different plans the farm offers its members to choose from. The price of each share depends on what it includes and how long it runs for. Using a CSA model allows Farmer Dave’s to collect money upfront, which is beneficial because they know how much money they should be able to put back into the farm. Not only does the farm supply their members with fresh locally sourced food; they also provide recipes, produce identification, and vegisodes, which showcase recipes and different ways to cook with the produce, that can be easily accessed on their website under farm resources.
Joining a CSA is a great way to eat healthy foods, support a local business, and help the environment. By selling directly to the consumer, the CSA model decreases the amount of travel required, thereby lessening carbon dioxide emissions. The farm also has reusable crates they package the produce in, which members can home and bring them back at the next pickup.
Details about the 2021 Summer Vegetable Share
- It runs for 20 weeks from early June to late October
- Individuals are given two options to choose from:
- A small share can feed one to two adults, or a family with young children, depending on how much they eat.
- A regular share can feed two to four adults, also depending on how much they eat.
- The shares include a variety of in season vegetables such as:
- Lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, beets, peppers, sweet corn, eggplant, summer squash, radishes, zucchini, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, basil, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes, onions, garlic, shell beans, green beans, collards, winter squashes, and more.
