CSA season kicks off at the McBurney Y

Volume One, Issue 32, April 27 - May 3, 2007

Chelsea Now photos by Jefferson Siegel
Left: Annette Pollert (left) of the Upper West Side and Anna Sternoff of Williamsburg sample the balsamic red peppers and onions at Monday’s Open House, held by the West Village Community Supported Agriculture collective at the McBurney YMCA. Right: West Village resident Sarah Gordon offers some fresh edamame to her daughter Ruthanna Flint, 22 months old, on Monday night.

By Jefferson Siegel

You meet your doctor when you’re sick, you meet your lawyer when you’re sued; it makes sense to meet your farmer before you eat. Many Chelsea and Village residents are doing just that through Community Supported Agriculture, a program that lets members buy fresh, organic fruit and vegetables directly from a farmer.

As people become more health-conscious, many are looking to narrow the time and distance gap from the farm to their table. With food travelling an average of 1,300 miles before reaching your plate, CSA offers an alternative to mass-produced, chemically enhanced and often pesticide-laden food.

Last Monday evening, the W. Village Community Supported Agriculture collective held an Open House at the McBurney YMCA on W. 14th St. The event gave current members and newcomers an opportunity to learn about CSA and the benefits of membership in the cooperative program.

Every Tuesday from June 12 to Nov. 20, members will stop at the McBurney Y for their share of just-picked, locally grown, organic vegetables, herbs and fruit from Stoneledge Farm in South Cairo, New York.

The 40-acre farm, 130 miles north of the city in Greene County, has been supplying the CSA for 11 years with organic produce.

“Finally, people have gotten more aware of CSA’s,” said Deb Kavakos, who, with her husband, Pete, runs Stoneledge. “It’s a wonderful model for farmers as well as the communities we produce for.”

The cost of a share in the CSA is income-based. If family income is below $30,000 a year, a share costs $335; if above $30K, $435. That comes out to $14 or $18 a week. For that, depending on the season and growing conditions, members take home cabbages, lettuces, peas, turnips, eggplant, onions, peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, pumpkins, squash and much more.

At Monday’s open house, people sampled edamame, salsa, balsamic red peppers, jellies, cheese, cider apples and fresh vegetable soup.

“It [the CSA] keeps growing every year,” said event planner Mara Marcenaro. “We tend to encourage people so you don’t miss out on eating well.”

The W. Village CSA has a social conscience as well. Core group volunteer John Whooley said any leftover food is donated to the “Welcome Table” at St. Francis Xavier Church at 30 West 16th St. Whooley added the Chelsea church is the only one in the area to offer a Sunday soup kitchen, which makes use of the CSA leftover donation.

“Eating is a political act,” farmer Kavakos told the crowd. “You can make a statement by what you eat.”

More information on the W. Village CSA is available at www.westvillagecsa.org or by contacting Anne O’Hara at 212-604-7572 or by e-mail: anohara@svcmcny.org.