Norman Farm Market : New CSA Location At Universities At Shady Grove In Rockville, Md

We got a post card today from Normans Farm Market that they have a opened a new CSA pickup location at the Universities of Shady Grove in Rockville MD. A CSA is Community Supported Agriculture where you have the option of buying membership shares for a season or the whole season. The produce “direct from farm to the table” is then delivered to you through pick up points. The Norman Farm Market Members have 4 options pre-season, Whole season , Early , mid or late season only and choose between Family share and couples share. You can also slit your share with friends and pick up on alternate weeks. From my rough calculations each share depending on the program may be an average of $25 per week which seems very reasonable.
Just as a sample here is what the Mid-Season shares contain as per the Norman Farms Market website :
5 lb basket of fruit, you-pick (ie. peaches, donut peaches, plums, nectarines), 5 lbs vegetables, you-pick, (ie. tomatoes, squash/zucchini, potatoes, onions, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant), Pick 2 other items (ie. corn, melon, heirloom or cherry tomatoes, beans, blueberries/blackberries)
You can also follow Normans Farm Market on Twitter . Hope this is useful to you and please comment if you use a CSA and what would you advise.

CSA : Community Supported Agriculture. Definition from USDA

Community Supported Agriculture consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community's farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production. Typically, members or "share-holders" of the farm or garden pledge in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation and farmer's salary. In return, they receive shares in the farm's bounty throughout the growing season, as well as satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land and participating directly in food production. Members also share in the risks of farming, including poor harvests due to unfavorable weather or pests. By direct sales to community members, who have provided the farmer with working capital in advance, growers receive better prices for their crops, gain some financial security, and are relieved of much of the burden of marketing.

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