It's Almost Time for CSA Pick-Ups to Begin!!

Hello Urban Fresh Shareholders!

We have been busily preparing and planting the garden, and we're off to a good start.  Here is a list of what is in the ground today: garlic, sweet onions, green onions, storage onions, several varieties of potatoes, 5 varieties of cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, carrots, radishes, salad turnips, purple turnips, bok choy, braising greens, cucumbers, sugar snap peas, fave beans, Jerusalem artichokes, summer squash, spinach, lettuce, arugula, 3 types of kale, collards, chard, green beans, sweet corn, and probably more that I am forgetting about.  The strawberries are full of flowers and we're hoping to have a good harvest this year.   Coming up to be planted later this week we have: 12 different varieties of peppers, 24 varieties of tomatoes, basil, tomatillos, 12 varieties of melon, celery, and of course more plantings of all the classics (lettuce, carrots, beets, greens, etc.). 

We have officially begun the Farmers Market season, every Saturday from 9 AM - 1:30 PM you can find us at the Hayden Market and every Wednesday you can find us at the Downtown CDA Market from 4 PM - 7 PM.  Your shareholder benefits begin immediately, so stop by for CSA exclusive eggs and a 10% discount on all veggies or starts.  Your CSA pick-ups will begin on June 15th for Saturday shareholders and June 19th for Wednesday shareholders.  We have implemented a few changes this year, most of which you're probably aware of.  Here is rundown of how your CSA pick-up will go for the 2013 season:

Instead of bulky and wasteful cardboard boxes, we will provide you with 2 Organic cotton shopping totes.  These will be given to you on your first pick-up and we'll buy them back from you after the CSA season ends (unless you'd like to keep them, in which case you just forfeit the $25 deposit).  Instead of pre-packaged shares we are going for a more customizable approach this season.  There will still be a list of what is in that weeks share, but each week you will have 1 "Free Choice" item as well as 1 "Greens Choice" (kale, collards, chard, etc).  You will also have more choice in variety, for example you will have 2 heads of lettuce but there may be up to 6 varieties to choose from.  In an effort to accommodate differing tastes we will also allow for limited changes to your weekly offering.  For example if you're sick of salad but would like another bunch of kale, we can easily accommodate you.

We realize that for some it will be more inconvenient to have to select the produce yourself but we feel that overall you will feel a stronger connection with the food we have grown for you and also have a better opportunity to seek out additional farmers market ingredients you may need for your weekly groceries.  We will have a quick sign-in sheet, your list will be easy to see, and you will not have to wait in line to check-out.  Just get your goodies and be on your way!!

We will also be incorporating weekly newsletters VIA email, instead of printed newsletters at the stand (although I will try to have a few extra copies printed out).  This way we hope to be able to have an archive of previously posted recipes and tips available for your convenience.  We are also saving our eggs for our shareholders only, although they are in limited supply and available on a first come, first serve basis.

In other farm news we have obtained our Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) certification, if you are unfamiliar with this program it is "the grassroots alternative to Certified Organic".  It is 3rd party verification that we are following the same protocols (and more) set forth by the National Organic Program. We had also planned to put up a 30' x 72' high tunnel (temporary greenhouse) this spring, but due to some conflicts with the County Building Department we will be unable to follow through with this development at this time.  We were also featured in this months issue of North Idaho Wellness Magazine (available for free in Pilgrims, Super Supplements, and many other retail locations).

We thank you for your continued support and are eagerly awaiting the beginning of the CSA season.
If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call or email.

Sincerely,

Your Farmers
The Winniford Family
208-292-4923
info@urbanfreshproduce.com
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