Howell CSA's Early-Bird Discount Available until March 1

HOWELL -- Now more than ever, it is essential to consider your choice of foods, their quality and origin along with the ease of obtaining them from safe sources.

One way to achieve these goals is to join a local community-supported agriculture (CSA) group where you can meet interesting people and reap the financial and health benefits that can result from purchasing shares of organic food.

The shares have a set price for the season and are perfect to protect yourself from the continually rising inflation you see at your local supermarkets.

Here is the scoop:

Please take advantage of the popular DISCOUNT DEADLINE that expires March 1, 2023.

We have 12 CSA host sites in New Jersey and even New York! Those sites (contact info provided) include the following places:

1. Howell, NJ HowellCSA@Gmail.com;

2. Matawan, NJ matawancsa@gmail.com;

3. West Belmar, NJ jenniferosullivan@me.com;

4. Spring Lake, NJ Heights jtralkarn@aol.com;

5. Middletown, NJ MiddletownCSA@gmail.com;

6. Clifton, NJ Mrsscanion@aol.com;

7. Westfield, NJ westfieldcsa@gmail.com;

8. Bloomfield and Montclair, NJ BloomfieldMontclairCSA@gmail.com;

9. Morristown, NJ maggiekonner@gmail.com;

10. Fairlawn, NJ Glenrockfairlawncsa.org;

11. Newark, NJ eve@csanewark.com;

12. Staten Island, NY ropaf@aol.com or sfowler1111@verizon.net.

*Please contact your local CSA site for pricing, share offerings, and other details.

* We are looking for additional host locations. If interested in becoming a CSA Host, please email howellcsa@gmail.com.

The WHEN & WHERE details are as follows:

The 24-week CSA season of fresh and local organic produce begins June 9 and ends Nov. 17.

The farmer drops off the produce at the host's home on Fridays and share members pick up their food later in the afternoon or early evening.

The SHARE OPTIONS include the following, and please note that half shares are available for all three options below. Please reach out if you need help in getting matched with another half-share partner.

1. Premium Share:

The share will contain, on average, 10-12 items and a larger quantity of most of the items in the basic share.

2. Basic Share:

The share will contain, on average, 9-10 items. It will be approximately 75% of the Premium share.

3. Pre-bagged medium share:

The share will contain, on average, 9-10 items. And half of the quantity of many items in the premium share. Includes the cost of bagging.

Pricing is as follows:

1. Premium $990 + $15 site fee 1/2 share $495 + $15 site fee (early-bird cost $950 + $15 site fee 1/2 share $475 + $15 site fee).

2. Basic $825 + $15 site fee 1/2 $412.50 + 15 site fee (early-bird cost $795 + $15 site fee $397.50 + $15 site fee).

Please note there is an additional $75 charge for the option of picking up pre-boxed Premium and Basic shares.

3. Bagged Medium $660 + $15 site fee 1/2 share $330 + $15 site fee (early-bird cost $640 + $15 site fee $320 + $15 site fee).

There is an extra fee charged for all credit card payments.

There are also optional organic fruit shares that are $250 for the season and egg shares that are $130 (a dozen organic, free-range eggs for a bit over $5 per week).

The farmer determines which veggies and their quantities will be shipped for the week, depending on the time of the season.

You get an email at the beginning of the week about what he will deliver that week.

Some sample photos on our website www.yourlocalcsa.com show you what you might get on a weekly share (for a Premium share).

Our farmer is John Krueger, of Circle Brook Farm in Andover, NJ, Sussex County.

Here is a video featuring Farmer John.

HALF SHARES

You may join with a friend or ask us to match you up with a partner. Once a partner has been found, we will email you. The member paying should fill out the application with contact info for both partners. One person of the pair will send the payment in. Your payments will be combined, as mentioned above.

It is up to the partners to make whatever arrangement you wish on your own to divvy up the share. We do not separate the shares.

Half shares can be set up to either:

Alternate weeks that member will visit so that one member comes one week and the other comes the following week or one member visits and picks up veggies. The veggies can then be split between each member after pickup. Note that the farmer delivers the veggies in quantities of sometimes one lettuce or three squash, so you should have a way of allocating to accommodate this.

If you are interested in hosting your own CSA closer to your house, please email Howellcsa@gmail.com for more details.

Contact Marianne at Mylocalcsa@gmail.com for more information.