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Locally Owned and Grown
Written By: Jenny King | Issue: 2016/04 - April
Do you know what a CSA is?
It stands for Community Supported Agriculture and means that you buy shares in a farmer’s harvest. What do you get for your money? You’re guaranteed the freshest produce available and it comes directly from your neighbors.
The Cashiers-Highlands area is lucky to have a CSA right here and it’s called Blue Ridge Farmers Co-op. In its eighth season, it’ll run from June through October. This project was spearheaded by local growers Donna Few and Bob Smith, both of whom are dedicated to locally grown, organically produced fruits and vegetables.
Few’s farm is high in the mountains around Cashiers while Bob is from Bryson City. Since the farms are at vastly different elevations this means you’ll be able to reap the benefits of an extended growing season.
So, just how does it work? Well, you sign up for your share. Then on Wednesdays you’ll pick up a box of your fresh, organic produce at the United Community Bank in Cashiers. Each box will vary in content depending on what is available for harvest at the time. There will also be a tailgate market running concurrently and you’ll find more things from the co-op like shiitakes, Bob’s honey, wild foraged mushrooms, organic sprouts, and micro-greens. Harvests will continue through autumn, so seasonal fruits and vegetables will be available for 18 weeks. Smith and Few are not only dedicated to growing organically, but all the seeds they use are heirloom. There are absolutely no genetically modified plants grown on their farms. The only thing that could be better was if you grew your own.
Reap the bounty of our mountains by signing up to be a shareholder in your local CSA, the Blue Ridge Farmers Co-op. Due to the small number of growers in the co-op they’re only able to offer 20 shares for purchase and those are selling quickly, so call Donna today at (828) 226-9988.