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Geauga farm group has fresh alternative
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - March 04, 2009)
Geauga farm group has fresh alternative
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
A new organization in Geauga County is offering a fresh alternative to food that is shipped from distant locations.
A community-supported agricultural program has been formed in the Middlefield area that allows the public to take advantage of some of the freshest produce and meats available in the area.
Daniel Fisher, who serves as spokesman for the program, said 17 farmers will provide a steady stream of fresh produce for those willing to make an investment in the group. Those interested are invited to attend a "Meet the Growers" forum at 6:30 p.m. March 12 at a farm at 15549 Patch Road in Middlefield. The farmers will answer questions and explain the program.
The idea grew out of a program known as Geauga Family Farms, established by the Ohio State University Extension office in 2005.
More importantly, Mr. Fisher said, it is a way to keep the long and proud tradition of farming alive in Geauga County.
He said, several years ago, some of the older Amish farmers decided there had to be some way to save the farms that have been producing for generations in the county.
Increased land prices and decreased profit for their labors were driving many out of farming, Mr. Fisher said. The solution was direct sales, which allowed farmers to receive better prices for their crops, he said.
"We're the only middleman, so the farmers can get more money for their product," he said.
Mr. Fisher said bringing farmers together allows for a greater variety of products that can be offered. "With a group of farmers you can do a pretty good variety," he said.
Tomatoes, potatoes, pepper, beets, onions and an assortment of berries are just some of the fresh foods that will be provided. Mr. Fisher said one interested person who called asked him to read the list of what will be available. He said he barely got through half the list when the caller stopped him and said he got the idea.
Mr. Fisher said the group not only provides some of the freshest goods available but also ones that are certified organic, which means they use sustainable practices that are good for the environment.
"It's not just about vegetables, it's farming, period," Mr. Fisher said.
Those sustainable practices are also used in raising livestock, including free-range chickens, turkeys and grass-fed beef, he said.
He said the group is made up of about 80 percent Amish farmers.
He said some do not employ the certified organic practices but use a minimum of chemicals in their fields.
Mr. Fisher, an Amish man, said he did not grow up on a farm. He grew up on a small lot that allowed only a small garden. His father, he said, worked in a rubber factory.
As he was growing up, Mr. Fisher said, he began reading about organic farming. He would graduate from a small garden to a large garden to a field.
Those who invest in the group will be provided with one box of produce every week for 24 weeks, he said.
Those who go organic are asked to invest $660, while those who invest in the more traditional methods of farming are asked to pay $535.
Mr. Fisher said there has already been a good response with people calling from as far away as Lakewood.
The group, he said, will make weekly drop-offs in areas where the demand is sufficient to support the deliveries. Already, the group is planning drop-offs at the Cleveland Food Coop, Hiram College and in the communities of Beachwood, Lakewood and Collinwood.
He said Bainbridge may also be another dropoff community if a few more sign up.
For those who wish to participate, but may not qualify for a drop-off area, Mr. Fisher said, there is a warehouse on the Middlefield-Burton-Troy townships line where their orders can be picked up.
Mr. Fisher said those who may want more than what's contained in the weekly boxes can order extra. If one quart of strawberries may be in the weekly box and you want 20, it can be arranged, Mr. Fisher said. The same goes for any vegetable, whether they are potatoes, tomatoes or peppers, he said.
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