Residents in the Annapolis and Upper Marlboro areas of Maryland can purchase shares to receive a variety of farm-fresh produce each week through the popular Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Clagett Farm.
The CSA, which typically sells out its available shares each year, enables members to pick up seasonal produce ranging from salad greens and green beans to peppers and tomatoes from mid-May until mid-November.
The vegetables and other produce are grown at CBF’s regenerative farm in Prince George’s County using organic farming practices that are beneficial to the environment. CBF uses the farm to practice and teach techniques to build healthy soil and prevent polluted runoff. Agricultural pollution is the largest source of Chesapeake Bay pollution. CSA members can also visit the farm during the growing season to learn about environmentally friendly farming, pick their own food, and volunteer.
Shares for pickup in Annapolis at the Philip Merrill Environmental Center in Bay Ridge cost $759 for a 26 week share or $448 for a 13-week share. The center is located at 6 Herndon Ave. in Annapolis and pickups are on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
Shares for pickup in Upper Marlboro at CBF’s Clagett Farm cost $699 for 26 weeks or $383 for 13 weeks. The farm is at 11904 Old Marlboro Pike in Upper Marlboro and pickups are available from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
Members can also pay in four monthly installments, which costs 2 percent more. A 50 percent discount is available for households with lower incomes.
Despite inflation, CBF has not increased the price of its CSA shares this year. As in past years, CBF will donate about 35 percent of the produce grown at Clagett Farm to local food banks. By purchasing a share in a community-supported agriculture program like Clagett’s, you can help reduce pollution from factory farming and shipping as well as benefit local farmers.
If you’re interested in purchasing a Clagett Farm CSA share this year, visit clagettcsasales.org.
Produce items typically available from Clagett in the spring and fall include:
- Kales and collards
- Specialty salad greens such as arugula
- Strawberries (in spring)
- Cabbages
- Root vegetables such as turnips and radishes
- Kohlrabi
- Onions
- Garlic scallions
- Large lettuce heads
- Fennel
- Swiss chard
- Bok choy
- Cut flower arrangements (calendulas, snapdragons, and lilies)
- Sweet potatoes (in fall)
- Carrots (in limited quantities)
In the summer:
- Variety of tomatoes – heirloom, cherry, and slicing tomatoes
- Sweet peppers
- Chili Peppers
- Sweet potatoes
- Red and yellow potatoes
- Garlic bulbs
- Perennial herbs – parsley, basil, oregano, thyme, and sage
- Cantaloupes, honeydews, and watermelons
- Summer squash
- Eggplant
- Okra
- Cut flower arrangements (sunflower, tithonia, cosmos, and zinnias)
- Cucumbers (pickling and slicing)
- Green beans
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