What is a CSA?
A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a partnership between a city group and regional farmers. During the winter and spring, the CSA farmers sell shares in their farm's upcoming harvest to individuals, families or institutions. The share price goes toward the cost of growing and distributing a season's worth of produce and paying the farmer a living wage. By supporting the farmers, our CSA members not only get freshly picked or processed delicious food once a week at a very affordable price, they are also helping to preserve local/sustainable agriculture and farmland, and get to enjoy being part of a community of food-conscious neighbors, participate in pot-lucks, trips to the farm and other fun events.
What types of memberships do you offer?
Summer/Fall CSA: We offer Large or Small Veggie Shares with either our 23 week memberships, or our 15 week "Vacationer’s Share” memberships. The "Vacationer’s Share” is to accommodate those who are away during most or all of July and August; so pick ups are only during the months of June, September, October and November.
Optional Shares of fruit, pastured eggs, raw milk, yogurts, various poultry products, 100% grass-fed beef, lamb and pork products, cow and goat cheeses, KOSHER Organic milk and poultry products, and mushrooms are also available as add on items to all memberships!
Once we hit our groove and the season is underway, members will also have the ability to purchase a variety of other local items on a week to week basis like honey, butter, maple syrup, jams, lamb, roasts, duck, etc. **Pastured turkeys are available to order for Thanksgiving.
For more information including prices on our Large vs. Small Veggie shares visit our Veggie Shares page.
Winter CSA: We also offer 6 distributions over the course of 3 months during the winter. In addition to Veggies and Fruit, we also offered many of our Optional Shares for those participating members.
Please note that all memberships are required to volunteer for either 3 (23 week Share) or 2 (Vacationer’s Share), two hour 'shifts' to help out at the site over the course of the season.
Where and when do we pick up our veggies each week?
The 2017 season will begin @ June 13th (give or take depending on Mother Nature) and run for 23 consecutive weeks (excluding July 4th) and ending @ November 21st. Our freshly harvested produce is delivered from the farms to our distribution site in NYC, at the Church of St Paul & St Andrew, 263 W 86th St at West End Ave. Members, or their representatives, collect their food at the site between 4:00 and 7:00** PM every Tuesday. **Late pick ups are available. Before joining, please email bernie@creamofthecropcsa.org. On rainy days we distribute at the same location but indoors.
Our Philosophy
At Cream of the Crop, we work constantly to ensure that we are offering the best local produce available. What does "the best” mean? Like other CSA’s, our produce is sourced locally, but here at Cream of the Crop, we choose to work with farmers who at minimum, use sustainable farming practices. After that criteria is met, we then look for farmers that go above and beyond what is simply acceptable. Because of this, it means that a couple of our optional shares may be a bit more expensive than other CSA shares but like the saying goes, you get what you pay for!
Here are a few examples of how COTC goes above and beyond to bring our members the best produce available:
- Our veggies aren’t just local they are certified organic.
- Our beef and lamb products are from 100% grass-fed cattle. They are never grain finished.
- We not only offer pastured Egg shares but also offer premium Araucana Egg shares
Year after year, COTC brings unique products to our members like artisan pastas, log grown mushrooms, raw milk etc. We also understand our community’s needs so we offer Kosher poultry and organic dairy products! All have the highest level of Kosher certification.
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