CSA Coalition Forming to Help Meet Increased CSA Demand

Farmers, are you wondering how to get a successful CSA (community supported agriculture organization) started? Eaters, do you wish there were more CSA’s available so you don’t have to be put on a waiting list to eat the freshest produce in town? In order to help meet the present and future demand for CSA’s in the Kansas City area, a coalition is being formed to grow CSA’s in KC.

The CSA Coalition will help to facilitate more farmers in developing
successful CSA programs and connect wannabe CSA customers with farmers. The
KC Food Circle will serve as an umbrella organization to this coalition. An
initial meeting of farmers and eaters was held on January 27, 2007 to
kick off this effort (click here for the meeting minutes).

The KC CSA Coalition is to be modeled after the Madison Area CSA Coalition in Madison, Wisconsin (www.macsac.org). The following is planned:

• CSA Directory: CSA farms are currently listed in the KC Food Circle Directory of Local Organic and Free Range Food Producers. We are working on a list of CSA’s for this webpage - a survey has been sent out to a growing number of interested growers, and the results will be updated below. A partial list has just been posted (3/26/2007)
  
  
• CSA Open House: CSA farmers attend the annual KC Food Circle Farmer’s Expo where eaters can meet local CSA farmers
  
  
• Farmer-to-farmer mentorship and support. This includes sharing of CSA production and organizational information and other resources among local CSA farmers. Grower gatherings will also be held. This information will be posted on this page as we compile and develop it.
  
  
• Creation of a consumer group to help with CSA promotion, education and development. As a first step we plan to conduct a survey of CSA farms in the area to determine existing numbers. The results of the survey will be posted here.

We hope that you are inspired to join in our efforts. CSA’s provide many benefits to both local farmers and eaters, creating a strong connection between people and the source of their food. After all, Community is the first word in CSA.

If you have any questions or want to become involved in some way,
please contact Liz Elmore // Liz.LocalFood @ gmail.com .

KC CSA COALITION SURVEY RESULTS:

Community Supported Agriculture and Subscription Programs

KC-CSA Coalition -- www.KCFoodCircle.org -- Liz.LocalFood @ gmail.com

 

JJ Farms
John & Judy Kaiahua
816-356-3938
8531 East 81st Terrace, Raytown, MO 64138-1547
JJ Farms - KCFC BB Entry
Pick up: Prairie Village, KC / Brookside / Raytown, MO
(flexible delivery for some areas - specifics are set up after application)
Family Share = $450 per season / Couples = $375 per season (for families with young children or roommates) / Indiv. = $300 per season / Special Payment Plans = Available
26 years in farming - All produce grown organically on land that has been chemical-free for over 16 years - CSA for 14 years.
Other than area veggies: organic eggs
Features: Yearly farm tours arranged by KCCUA
2007 Openings: Shares still available as of 4/5/2007

 

Spring Creek Farm
Stephanie Thomas
785-633-5292
1841 N. 150 Rd., Baldwin City, KS. 66006
2toms (@) netks.net
Pick up: Wednesday by 1pm, May 2 – Sept 12 at various locations: 1.) The Dolphin Song 102 S. Elm St., Gardner, KS. 66030; 913-856-7513; Linda Meisinger. 2.) Family Chiropractic Care 1500 Kansas City Rd., Ste. 50, Olathe, KS. 66061; 913-764-2525; Tanya Schupbach,DC. 3.) Antiques on the Prairie, 520 High St., Baldwin City, 66006; 785-594-7555, Stan Vickers.
Family Share: $300;
2/3 Share: $200 Payment by April 15.
Certified Naturally Grown, Exclusive organic practices- not certified. Gardening and preserving for 40 years, larger scale organic farming for three years, 2007 is first year of CSA.
Other than area veggies: I grow heirloom varieties, with heavy production in French melons, sweet corn, and 15 varieties of tomatoes.
Features: Host farm for Growing Growers seeking 2 volunteer or paid apprentices.
Communication: In development.
2007 openings: in Gardner/Lawrence and Olathe near the new Bass Pro shop on 119th.

 

Huns Garden
Pov Huns
H. 913-671-7316 C. 913-961-1561
Farm: 4730 Metropolitan Ave, Kansas City, KS 66106
Mail: 5440 County Line Road, Kansas City, KS 66106
hun_sp (@) hotmail.com -- phuns (@) juno.com
Pick up: 5440 County Line Road, Wed 5:30–8pm May through October.
Share: $300 for 20 weeks. $50 deposit followed by three payments. Designed to provide the weekly vegetable needs of an average family of four, or a family of two adult veggie-lovers. 7-11 pounds per week. Shares will be lighter and leafier in June, heavier Aug-Oct.
Exclusive organic practices- not certified, with a very limited use of water when possible. (Our operation depend solely on mother nature). Farming since 1984, 2007 is first year of CSA.
Other than area veggies: feature produce with health benefits: Pak Choi Flower- allergy remedy, Lemon grass- common cold remedy, Bitter Melon fruit- high blood pressure and diabetic remedy and Bitter Melon leaf- well known for green tea.
Volunteer is welcome on the farm Monday thru Friday morning between the hours of 8:15AM and 12:00 noon. We do not work on the hot afternoon due to heat stress. Internships and Apprenticeships are done on a voluntary basis. An apprentice may choose to work in the morning or in the evening when the field is cooler.
Communication: E-mail will be available but will be transform into website once the CSA get start.
Features: There is a near by park ( Leo Avery park).

 

Karbaumer Farm
Klaus and LeAnn ( Lee) Karbaumer
816-270-2177
12200 MO 92 Highway, Platte City, Missouri 64079
karbaumerfarm (@) yahoo.com -- karbaumerfarm.com  (coming soon!)
Pick up: At the farm; Platte City Farmers Market; Weston Farmers Market and a location south depending on membership ) Every other week:  weekend mornings or a designated weekday evening May-October.
Full Share $250 (4-6 family members)
Half Share $140 (1 or 2 
Exclusive organic practices- not certified, no tractors used, only draft horses. Thirty years farming experience, 2007 is third year of CSA.
Other than area veggies: Free-range eggs, apples and peaches, pea tendrils, patty pan squash, limited honey and honey products; first season for cut flowers and herbs.   We try to give recipes for less familiar items.  We want everyone to experience the magnificent taste and freshness of produce grown in soil they can gather up in their own hands to smell and feel the life in it.
Communication: Newsletter to members by e-mail or snail, website, CSA membership meeting.
Features: Harvest supper at end of season; visitors welcome.

 

Snow's Heritage Acres
Beth Snow
816-632-0908
Farm 2993 NW Jewell Drive, Hamilton, Missouri  64644
Mail  PO Box 415 Hamilton, Missouri  64644
snowsheritageacres (@) centurytel.net -- www.snowsheritageacres.com
Pick up: Saturday May through October 1. Multiple locations: 1.) At Farm 8:30-10am Hamilton, MO. 2.)Heritage Home Place, Starlite Plaza 11am-12:30pm 1507 Main, Ste A, Stewartsville, MO; Contact Dee Harp 816-669-1330 3.) Liberty, MO 2-3pm 7824 Pleasant Valley Rd 
Full Share: 7 to 9 produce items each week for 24 weeks. $480.00/year plus $30 annual membership fee which is due with signed contract; Tax is included in price. 10% discount if paid in full by May 1 Installment plan: 3 payments of $160.00 each due on May 1, June 1, and July 1.
1/2 Share: 7 to 9 produce items in 1/2 quanity of full share each week for 24 weeks $276.00/year plus $30 annual membership fee which is due with signed contract; Tax is included in price; 5% discount if paid in full by May1.  Installment plan:  3 payments of $92.00 each due on May 1, June 1, and July 1.
Exclusive organic practices - not certified. Three years farming experience, 1 st year of CSA.
Other than area veggies:  Pastured Lamb, free range eggs & meat birds; (these are produced on the farm and will be offered above the regular CSA)
Features: Farm animals: sheep/lambs, chickens/chicks, horse. Opportunities for u-pick of strawberries, blackberries, tomatoes, peppers, green beans, and peas. No scheduled work days due to distance; Volunteer work is appreciated.
Communication:  Weekly newsletter via e-mail or mail, also posted on website.

 

J-14 Agricultural Enterprises
Joe Jennings
913 287-3365   (calls preferred)
4600 Sortor Dr, Kansas City Kansas, 66104
themightymen (@) hotmail.com
Pick up: 4600 Sortor Dr at farm March-October. 816-632-0908
Share: Subscription U-Pick, up to 500lbs per subscription.  For $200 you receive a key to pick at your leisure. 
Exclusive organic practices- not certified. Over 50 years farming experience, fifth year of CSA.
Communication: email available upon request.  Will also mail flyers and subscription letters.
Features: Volunteers are always welcome. I currently lend my land to Camp C.A.R.V.E.R.(City Agricultural Resourceful Visionaries Entering Real-life) . It is a youth program designed to give city dwelling youths an opportunity first hand at rural farm life and entrepreneurship. Also have an on farm catfish pond; U-catch U-pay and there is a neighboring horse stable.

 

The Organic Way Farm
Dan & Denise May
Route 1, Box 104 Milo, Missouri 64767
417-944-2818
danddmay (@) aicon.net -- www.theorganicwayfarm.com (under renovation)
Pick up: 102 E Gregory Blvd, ( Waldo) KCMO –5pm-7pm Wednesdays, mid-May thru mid-October
Family share: $475 ("too much food" according to many). Deposit of $235 due at time of signup.  $20 Payment for package is due weekly for first nine weeks, final weeks are covered by deposit. Payment plan is negotiable to fit personal budgetary schedules.
Exclusive organic practices- not certified; More than Organic, please explain: soil maintenance improvements annually. Farming for eleven years, seventh year of CSA.
Other than area veggies: Eggs, berries, pears and apples in the fall, organic oranges in the winter (trading tomatoes/money for citrus) dozens of special hybrid varieties of vegetables. Open volunteer days, kids welcome, call ahead to arrange, annual dinner. Apprenticeships offered, but full for 2007.
Communication: Weekly newsletter with share includes recipes, crop and farm news, etc.
Features: Delivery truck & tractor converting to burn vegetable oil, 6 greenhouses, refractometer used for sucrose- and brix-level analysis, food-grade peroxide demos.

 

Strawberry Lane Farm
Marie Kamphefner
660-485-6473  
510 NE Jade Lane, Trenton, Missouri 64683 ( Grundy County)
kampy (@) grm.net  
Pick up: Have been delivering individually to locations North of the River along I-35 corridor, usually Wednesdays or Thursdays May through October. Need to establish pick up locations.
Family share: $550, paid before season begins.
Certified Organic; to be recertified soon.
Thirteen years farming experience, 2007 is our fourth year of CSA.
Other than area veggies: We have extremely delicious strawberries. We have eggs when the girls are laying. Sometimes we give baked goods in a share, like whole wheat bread, cookies or homemade corn meal made in our Missouri Health Department certified kitchen. We take requests for certain vegetables or small fruit and try to grow them for the customers. Our customers are welcome to visit, but are not required to work.
Communication: We have a weekly newsletter that is included with the share.

 

ShroomHeads
Tena Bellovich
816 966 9446
12301 E 264th Street, Freeman, Missouri. 64137
http://www.shroomheads.com
Pick up: ShroomHeads Farm above, Minor Park Kansas City, 10530 Askew Ave, Kansas City Mo. Wednesdays 4pm-7pm, Saturdays 8am-12pm April through November.
Share: $300 to $650 depending. Higher prices reflecting available mushrooms.
Certified Naturally Grown & Exclusive organic practices- not certified. Five years farming experience, 2007 is first year of CSA.
Other than area veggies: Mushrooms! Eggs, heirloom tomatoes, onions, celery, greens. Will trade produce for work; apprenticeships through Growing Growers.
Communications: Email, online message board, website.
Features: Lots of animals!

 

Kansas City Community Farm (a project of the KC Center for Urban Agriculture - KCCUA)
Katherine Kelly  or Daniel Dermitzel, 913-831-2444
PO Box 6043, Kansas City, KS 66106
www.kccua.org
Pick up: at farm or choose optional delivery Wed; 21 weeks starting in early May.
Full Share: $390; 2/3 Share:  $260. 70% paid by 3/15, remainder by start of CSA. Delivery: $100 (check our website for delivery area)
Certified Organic, farming more than ten years, sixth year of CSA.
Other than area veggies: Honey.
No work requirement but many opportunities to get involved throughout the season.
Features: We offer volunteer and paid apprenticeships through the Growing Growers program. Our farm usually hosts several educational events throughout the growing season.
Communications: Weekly emails; website; face-to-face during pick-up!
2007 season is full interested customers are encouraged to email us; they will be notified when we accept new members.