| MARCH 8, 2011 -- Connecticut's Twin Pines Farm is offering fresh, organic vegetables, herbs, fruits and jams to the public for the duration of Connecticut’s growing season through a share-holding concept called Community Supported Agriculture.
The family-run farm has been harvesting vegetables, herbs, fruits and flowers from more than 40 acres and producing jams and relishes for the past 26 years.
Its harvest can be found at famers markets in Torrington, Bristol and Southington, in addition to Thomaston. Its produce can also be spotted in 60 grocery stores and markets across the state.
But now, through Community Supported Agriculture, the Thomaston farm will sell shares of its harvest directly to the public for $500.
“Basically, you buy into what we’re growing, and for a 16-to-18-week span, you’re going to be guaranteed fresh vegetables right from our farm,” said R. J. LeMaire, part operator of Twin Pines. “They’ll also be able to get our fruit jams, relishes and honey if that’s what they want.”
R. J. LeMaire helps run the farm business with his parents Ray and Lorry and his sister Amanda.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer, who offers shares of his crops for sale to the public, R.J. LeMaire said.
In the case of Twin Pines, the price of $500 guarantees the shareholder fresh produce every week for at least 16 weeks, he said.
The farm will hand over approximately $31.25 of product to the shareholder each week, Lorry LeMaire added.
“We grow a lot of stuff and there’s tons of herbs they’ll be able to have,” she said.
Products available through the 16-week period will depend on what is in season at that time.
The 16-to-18-week period begins in July and runs through October.
While offering Community Supported Agriculture is a means to generate more income for the family business, R.J. LeMaire is also quick to point out that it generates numerous advantages for those who choose to by a share.
In addition to knowing they’ll always have fresh, all-natural produce coming their way, the opportunity exists for the shareholder to try a new vegetable, a chance to experience Twin Pines entire award-wining product line, develop a long-term relationship with the farmers and its food and learn how it’s grown.
“We’ve been growing substantially every single year and we’ve won some major awards,” R.J. LeMaire said. “We think that’s something that we can bring to CSA that maybe others can’t.”
Twin Pines Farm earned the 2010 Connecticut Specialty Foods Competition’s Top Product Line award last summer beating out more than 230 different specialty products that were evaluated by 30 judges. Twin Pines also won second and third place in the Outstanding Jam category for its Raspberry Rhubarb Jam and Raspberry Peach Jam, respectively, at the Connecticut Specialty Foods competition last year.
In 2007, its Zucchini Relish won first place in the Savory Condiment category at the same competition. Zucchini is just one of several varieties of produce grown in its two greenhouses and on its 40 acres of farm land that stretches into neighboring Plymouth, and zucchini is just one of many types of squash the farm produces, including acorn, butternut, spaghetti and summer squash. Twin Pines also grows potatoes, sweet corn, eggplant, lettuce, tomatoes, Swiss chard and six types of peppers. “We do a lot of planting,” R.J. LeMaire said. “There are literally thousands and thousands of each plant.”
The farm is starting to manufacture its own olive oil line, he said.
For more information on Twin Pines’ CSA offering, call 860-283-8902 or e-mail twinpinesfarmct@snet.net. |
