Sustainable Food Production:
Organic Beer/Wine | Farmers' Markets List | CSA Membership Listing | NEWS
Fresh from the Farm – CSA Memberships Growing in Popularity
To keep organic farms running and fresh products on our table, a concept known as Community Supported Agriculture has been gaining support. By buying a share in a farm for a season, members offset the enormous upfront costs farmers have to cover and in exchange, receive product throughout the season. The practice is spurring the growth of small sustainable farms and is keeping fresh, vitamin rich and chemical free food available. Many farms participate in farmers’ markets and distribute product shares (usually a basket or bag) there. Delivery to host sites for consumers who don’t live conveniently near a farmer’s market is a growing trend. Depending on where you live, there is probably a farmer’s market or CSA delivery site close by. Check out the below extensive (but not necessarily thorough) listing of organic producers.
The cost of joining a CSA varies and each farm includes their unique products. For a May – October seasonal membership and weekly product supply, expect to spend in the neighborhood of $400. Not only will you enjoy a superior product fresh from the field, but you support your local economy. Mattawoman Creek Farms CSA membership is full for this season, but others farms still appear to have openings.
Carol Brighton 3/2011
5/5/11 - Virginia Brewer to Produce Organic Line of Beer.
Blue Mountain Barrel House and Organic Brewery in Nelson County will be a 10,000 square foot production-only facility for the 10 lines of Blue Mountain beer that will be kegged or bottled in 750ml corked bottles and undergo 100% natural refermentation. These beers will be USDA certified organic and will tend toward the more “specialty” end of Blue Mountain’s beer production spectrum. Beers brewed will include the popular Dark Hollow Bourbon-Barrel Aged Stout and Mandolin, but will also introduce new styles such as an imperial pilsner and a barrel-aged Belgian-inspired ale. Production is slated to begin by January 2012, with a start capacity of 2,500 barrels per year, growing to a capacity of 5,000 barrels per year. More info at www.bluemountainbrewery.com
4/26/ 11 - Organic Beer Listing - http://www.chasinggreen.org/article/where-can-you-find-organic-beer/
4/25/11 - Change in Virginia law allows producer of certified organic spirits – there's only one in the state – to sell from the distillery - http://ashburn.patch.com/articles/catoctin-creek-distilling-sees-business-growth-in-on-site-abc-store
3/3/11 - Craving for Organic - an account of an organic liquor maker's journey to sustainability - http://www.ecoseed.org/living-green/food/article/49-food/9185-(exclusive)-craving-for-organic--an-account-of-an-organic-liquor-maker's-journey-to-sustainability
Best Organic Brewery and Brewing Companies - Organic and Eco Friendly Beer Breweries - The Daily Green - http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/latest/organic-brewery-0625
Best Organic Wines - Organic White and Red Wines - The Daily Green - http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/latest/best-organic-wines#fbIndex1
6/5/11 - PRODUCE FOR THE PEOPLE (Mattawoman Creek Farms) on Page N5 of Sunday, June 05, 2011 issue of The Virginian-Pilot
6/2/11 - Chefs with Issues: Five Sustainable lessons from a family Farm. Craig Rogers is the shepherd and owner of Border Spring Farms in Patrick Springs, Virginia, where he raises and sells "Certified Naturally Grown" and "Animal Welfare Approved" lamb and sheep to acclaimed chefs and natural food stores. http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/06/02/chefs-with-issues-five-sustainable-lessons-from-a-family-farm/
5/30/11 - Grow Food in a Vertical Home Minigarden#more-15622 - http://www.jetsongreen.com/2011/05/vertical-mini-garden-wall-home.html#more-15622
5/26/11 - Organic Foods Without Genetically Modified Organisms Becoming Harder To Find -http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/226613.php
5/25/11 - Va-based food distributor using DNA to track beef - http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Va-based-food-distributor-using-DNA-to-track-beef-1395313.php
5/24/11 - Strong Sales of Organic Foods Attract Investors - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/24/business/global/24organic.html
5/20/11- 14 foods to buy organic - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joanna-dolgoff-md/foods-to-buy-organic_b_863914.html#s280979&title=Meat
5/17/11 -What you need to know about genetically modified organisms in your food. http://hamptonroads.com/2011/05/gmos-what-you-need-know-about-genetically-modified-organisms-your-food
5/5/11 - The Future of Food Conference at Georgetown University May 2011 -Video of Speakers including Prince Charles
5/1/11 - Unlikely niche: Blue Ridge Aquaculture has become the country's biggest producer in indoor-raised tilapia - Roanoke.com - http://www.roanoke.com/business/wb/284961
4/21/11 - Mother Earth News Fair Draws Eco-Experts to Puyallup (including Joel Salatinof VA's Polyface Farm featured in the NYT's bestseller Omnivores Dilema) - http://www.prweb.com/releases/Mother-Earth-News-Fair/names-Puyallup-keynotes/prweb5263664.htm
Dirty Dozen - Pesticide Residue - Organic Foods to Eat - The Daily Green - http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Dirty-Dozen-Foods?click=smart&kw=ist&src=smart&mag=TDG&link=http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Dirty-Dozen-Foods-SMT-TDG
11 Vertical Farms to Transform Our Cities - http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/vertical-farms?click=square
Five Points Community Market – Norfolk, VA
Chesapeake Farmers Market- City Park
Virginia Beach Farmers’ Market
Governors Point Farmers ‘Market
Suffolk Farmers’ Market – Main Street
Virginia Garden Organic Grocery
Websites that maintain CSA listings
NEW - Buy Fresh Buy Local Food Guide
Mattawoman Creek Farm CSA- Delivery to ODU/Ghent/VB-Oceanfront/Lesner Bridge
http://www.mattawomancreekfarms.com/CSA.htm
Full Quiver Farm -Buying Club– Beef/Poultry/Pork – Monthly Delivery to VB/NN/NFK/CHPK
http://www.fullquiverfarm.com/buying_club_request.html
Clayhill Farms - Delivery to numerous locations
http://sites.google.com/site/clayhillfarmscsa/
Whaleyville Farms CSA - Delivery to Norfolk and Poquoson
http://www.whaleyvillefarms.com/
Quail Cove Farms - Delivery to numerous locations - http://www.quailcovefarms.com/5.html
Coastal Farms - Organic Distributor/Delivery - http://coastalfarms.luluslocalfood.com/
Broken Arrows Farm –
Portsmouth/Governor’s Point Farmers Market &
Host Home Delivery (VB/NN/SFK)
Beef, chicken and produce
http://www.brokenarrowsfarm.com/how-to-buy.html
Olin-Fox Farms -Reedville CSA- Northern Neck Delivery – Kilmarnock/Whitestone
http://www.olinfoxfarms.com/page8.php
Skipper Farms CSA-Virginia Beach Farmers’ Market
http://skipperfarms.com/index.html
Batten Bay Farm - Norfolk’s Five Points Community Market/Governors Point Farmers’ Market/Portsmouth Farmers’ Market
http://battenbayfarm.com/aboutus.aspx
Acorn Hill Farms CSA - Suffolk Farmers’ Market
http://www.acornhillfarms.net/CSA.html
Brookdale Farms – Market Share CSA
http://www.brookdale-farm.com/market_csa.html
Virginia Beach CSA – New Earth Farm
http://www.newearthfarm.org/csa.html
Cullipher Farm - Pungo CSA -Cost Share Program
http://www.cullipherfarm.com/content/9645