What is a CSA?

The CSA is a relationship between you and the farm (our farm is Norwich Meadows Farm in upstate New York). Unlike shopping at the grocery store for produce each week, you have a direct relationship with your farmer. CSA members pay in advance for a share of the upcoming harvest and are ensured high-quality local organic produce, and the farm is ensured a consistent and secure market. Everything in the weekly CSA share is grown with great care (and love) on their Certified Organic fields, and delivered to your neighborhood drop-off point shortly after harvest.

There are many reasons to join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, including: 

• Support local farmers: CSAs help farmers have a reliable income and stay in business. 
• Access fresh produce: CSAs provide access to fresh, locally grown produce throughout the year. 
• Eat seasonally and Healthy: CSAs help you learn to eat seasonally, which can be beneficial for your nutrition. Eat more vegetables and fruit and share healthy eating habits with your kids – expose them to a variety of regional produce
• Try new foods: CSAs are a great way to try new foods and vegetables. 
• Support sustainable farming: CSAs allow you to support farmers who use sustainable growing methods. 
• Build relationships and community: CSAs connect you with likeminded consumers and allow you to participate in a more localized food system. When a community comes together weekly to share in the harvest a community is formed. Our pick-up site becomes a weekly meet-up for swapping recipes, stories, and even produce! CSA members also make a connection with their farmers, bringing them closer to their food.
• Be economical: Local produce is usually around the same price as grocery store produce, or even less expensive. While a CSA subscription may feel like a lot of money up front, you end up only spending around $32 per week for fresher than fresh vegetables, lasting longer than store-bought produce, leading to less waste.
• Be environmentally friendly: Buying local means buying foods that have undergone less travel, processing, and packaging. 
• Financial security: CSAs provide a source of financial security for farmers. To join a CSA individuals or families commit in advance to buy produce from a local farm over the growing season. The members’ advance payment helps to support the farmer's season start up costs, which are usually significant

FAQ – Forest Hills Tuv Ha’Aretz CSA

What does the name Tuv Ha'Aretz mean? The name Tuv Ha'Aretz suggests a double meaning: Tuv Ha'Aretz is both good for the land and the best of the land: good for the land because it encourages and supports small organic farmers who grow their crops using non-destructive methods on agricultural land near the city that would otherwise be threatened with development, and good of the land because the produce--often picked the morning of or the day prior to delivery!--is fresh, green, sweet, pesticide and chemical free, healthy, beautiful and delicious.

Do you have to be a member of Forest Hills Jewish Center to join? If I'm not Jewish, can I participate in Tuv Ha'Aretz? Tuv Ha’Aretz is open to the entire community, anyone can join. Tuv Ha'Aretz warmly welcomes both Jewish and non-Jewish members.

Where will our produce come from?

Norwich Meadows Farm is a 200 acre organic farm based in Norwich, NY near Binghamton. They are extraordinarily committed to the environment, growing without the use of harsh chemicals and using natural fertilizers such as kelp to enrich their soil. Their incredible assortment of produce not only satisfies the taste buds of NY's finest chefs, but also those of the farmers themselves. There is nothing they sell that they wouldn't be extremely excited to cook with.

What are some sample vegetables we may receive?

The farm offers a wide variety of certified organic vegetables including : Onions, Scallions, Garlic, Leeks, Artichoke, Beets, Carrots, Celery, Celery Root, Fennel, Arugula, Collards, Kale, Chard, Broccoli, Dandelion, Mustard, Pac Choi, Purslane, Spinach, Herbs, Kohlrabi, Microgreens, Pea Shoots, Lettuce, Okra, Parsley Root, Potatoes, Radicchio, Radish, Sunchokes, Turnips, Summer Squash, Winter Squash, Eggplant, Tomato, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Brussels Sprouts, Peas, String Beans, Shelling Beans, Edamame, Fava Beans, Sweet Pepper, Hot Pepper, Melon, Ginger, Turmeric and more

What are the dates of the CSA? The 2024 regular season is 22 weeks long, from June through November. There is also an option for Winter shares, 10 deliveries from January through May.

When and where can I pick up my share?

At the Forest Hills Jewish Center, pick ups are from 5:30-7:30 pm on Wednesdays.

Is volunteering for the CSA required? 

Yes, your membership in this volunteer-run organization requires you to volunteer for a minimum of 1 shift. Shifts are Wednesday at the pickup, or there is an option for meeting the truck in the late morning. Volunteering consists of signing people in at pickup and distributing the boxes to the members. There are other volunteer options as well.