When we think of great produce, spring’s bright green asparagus, summer’s juicy red tomatoes, and fall’s crisp apples tend to come to mind. The wintertime has us thinking of canned goods and lackluster produce in our stores – not exactly something to get excited about cooking with during the colder months. But fear not, fresh produce lovers. We’ve got four farms in the area that host winter CSAs, so you can have your farm-fresh food, and eat it all season long, too.
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Photo courtesy of Ironwood Farm
Ironwood Farm
Nestled in the picturesque small town of Ghent in Columbia County, Ironwood Farm is an all-female run farm producing certified organic produce year round. You can find Ironwood’s produce at the Rhinebeck Farmer’s Market, in shops such as Talbot and Arding or the Hawthorne Valley Food Store and in a smattering of fine restaurants from Fish & Game in Hudson, NY to Café Boulud in New York City. The winter CSA started in early November and runs until January 26, 2017 (but don’t worry, you can still join — they’re still accepting winter share members on a pro-rated basis). Customers can expect to find anything from celeriac and radishes to pea shoots, radicchio and baby bok choy. Pickup is at the farm itself on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Shares for the winter cost $375.
Ironwood Farm
103 County Route 9
​Ghent, NY 12075
Ironwood.farm
(316) 253-1511
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Photo courtesy of Fishkill Farms
Fishkill Farms
Over in Hopewell Junction, Fishkill Farms offers a plethora of options for their winter CSA. Not only will you receive the usual cold-hardy vegetables like winter squash, potatoes, and cabbage, but later in the season, members will also receive freshly frozen offerings from the summer time – tomatoes, peaches, and peppers will bring some summer sunshine into your kitchen all winter long. What makes Fishkill’s CSA really special is the ability to have some fantastic items added onto your share. “We also have wonderful add-ons including our own organic eggs, bread from Beacon Bread Company, milk from Hudson Valley Fresh, and cheese from Sprout Creek Farm,” said Katie Ross of Fishkill Farms. Along with each share, members receive recipe ideas and storage tips for the produce they’ll be getting. “Some additional perks of being a winter CSA member is that they will receive 10 percent off all Fishkill Farms’ products and 5 percent off all items in the farm store,” adds Ross. The Fishkill Farms Winter CSA starts December 3 and runs for 16 weeks. A fruit and veggie share starts at $450 for the season, with additional add on options. Pickup is every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the farm store.
Fishkill Farms
9 Fishkill Farm Road
Hopewell Junction, NY 12533
Fishkillfarms.com
845.897.4377
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Photo courtesy of Fishkill Farms
The Farm Bridge Shares
Formerly known as Winter Sun Farms, The Farm Bridge Shares is situated on Huguenot Street in New Paltz. “The Farm Bridge Shares partners with local, sustainable farms to supply a winter share of great tasting frozen fruits and vegetables all winter long,” said the Farm Bridge Shares team. “Our goal is to deliver a superior product at a fair price for you and the farmer.” Because of this multi-farm share set up, there are multiple pick up sites to choose from, from New Paltz and Rhinebeck to Yonkers and New York City. “Our share consists of frozen items which are either individually quick frozen (IQF) or pureed fruits/vegetables,” said the Farm Bridge team. “The IQF process freezes each kernel of corn, each berry, which not only maximizes flavor, but allows you to parcel out what you need (without having to hack off a chunk from a solid block), and put the rest of the package back in the freezer. We freeze at the peak of freshness, often hours after the farmer’s harvest.” The most popular winter share option is the five-month share from December to April for $132; look out for summer corn, green beans, kale, jarred tomatoes, and butternut squash puree. A one-time share option is also available for $122 – you can pick up the entire five-month share at the first distribution in December. Bonuses for the one-time share include $10 off and three extra bags of frozen veggies PLUS the ability to pick what’s in your box.
The Farm Bridge Shares
195 Huguenot Street
New Paltz, NY 12561
Thefarmbridgeshares.com
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Photo courtesy of Roxbury Farm
Roxbury Farm
Roxbury Farm, located in Kinderhook, offers pickup locations from the Capitol District down to New York City as well. Winter shares are still available with the first distribution in December and run until February. Each month’s box consists of 30 pounds – yes, 30 pounds – of root and storage crops ranging from sweet potatoes and watermelon radishes to rutabaga and winter squash. If you’re a current CSA member, a winter share will only run you $125; if you’re brand new to CSAs, a new membership will cost $150 for the winter share. Pickup sites vary depending on your location, but distribution is the week of November 29 to December 3, 2016; the week of January 3 to January 6, 2017; and the week of January 31 to February 3, 2017.
Roxbury Farm
2501 Route 9H
Kinderhook, NY 12106
roxburyfarm.com
518-758-8558
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