Project GROWS, a non-profit educational farm for youth located in Augusta County, announced that it will bring fresh produce to individuals and families in the Valley through its fourth annual Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
CSA programs support local agriculture by connecting local farms directly to community members who purchase a share of their produce at the beginning of the year. Members then receive weekly baskets of fresh, local produce throughout the 18-week season.
Members purchasing Project GROWS’ CSA baskets at full price will help offset the cost for Project GROWS to provide free “bounty baskets” for local families in need through a partnership between Project GROWS and the Staunton Augusta YMCA.
“The first three seasons of our CSA program were about growing delicious, high quality vegetables, building a base of supportive members, and finding out what produce works best in our region. Now, we are ready to provide families in our community with more access to healthy, fresh food, and continue to work together to improve our local food system,” says Project GROWS’ Executive Director Jenna Clarke.
Purchasing a CSA share gets members 18 weeks of fresh local produce, all ecologically grown at the Project GROWS farm. Produce varies according to what is in season and baskets come with a weekly newsletter with information on the vegetables and sample recipes. Baskets can be picked up at locations in Staunton and Waynesboro. Membership costs $500 – $150 of that amount is considered a donation that supports Project GROWS’ food education access programs.
Project GROWS improves the health of youth in the area by connecting them to healthy food through hands-on, garden education and access to fresh produce. The farm is in its 5th growing season, producing more than 50,000 pounds of produce annually on its 10-acre production and learning farm in Augusta County, and serving more than 3,000 youth annually with hands-on garden-based education. In addition, Project GROWS manages the Wednesday North Augusta Farmer’s Market (open April through October from noon to 5:00 p.m.) and the Saturday Waynesboro Market opening May 7, 2016 in downtown Waynesboro. Both markets accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for low-income individuals and families and offer “double dollars” for customers using SNAP.
For more information about Project GROWS and how you can sign up for a CSA, contact Farm Manager Sam Berenstain, [email protected]. For general information visit www.ProjectGROWS.org or Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProjectGrows.
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