The Dirt on the Winter 2013 CSA

Thank you for your interest in our community supported agriculture (CSA) program. By participating in our CSA, you are investing not only in our farm, but in your own health and the health of our community, islands, and world.

We are the only certified organic farm with a CSA program in the Virgin Islands. So if you are looking for the best fresh, local, organic produce available, you can skip the store, and sign up for a share in our labor of love.

What’s in the Bag?
Each week we will harvest and deliver a variety of our organic produce to your pickup location (Frederiksted and Christiansted on St. Croix; Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas; and Gifft Hill on St. John). Each bag typically contains several pounds of produce and is enough for two people to eat well together throughout the week.

The goal is to provide value that surpasses the fair market price of your share for organic food every week. Price comparisons from prior weeks have shown our food, while better in quality, sometimes actually has a lower price than that which is found in the conventional grocery stores. 

We have put together a tentative listing of some the items you may receive below. While we cannot guarantee any one crop, this is our goal:

Month 1
Pink Beauty Radishes, Tango Minature Head Lettuce, Mizuna Greens, Geogia Collards, Arugula, Mustard Greens, Hakurei Turnips, Caribe Cilantro, Genovese Basil, Thai Basil, Bananas, Papaya, Tuscano Kale, Green Onions, Jalapeno Peppers, Romano Beans, Pac Choy, Flowering Broccoli, Chaya, Moringa greens and powder.

Month 2
Same as above, plus: Eggplants, Sweet and Hot Peppers, Beets, Suyo Long Cucumbers, Heirloom Tomatoes (Cherokee Purple, Striped German, Black Krim and more), Yellow and Red Cherry tomatoes, Butter Head Lettuce, Red Noodle Yardlong Beans, Clemson Spineless Okra, Rainbow Chard, Carrots, Edamame, Parsley, Garlic Chives.

Month 3
Same as above, plus: Winter Squash, Red Burgundy Okra, Pumpkins, Green Yardlong Beans, Sweet Potatoes, and more tomatoes!

Plus... seasonal specials such as Mango, Surinam Cherry, Passionfruit, Lemongrass, Sugar Cane, Bush Tea and Miracle Fruit! 

You can also choose to add an optional bi-weekly coffee share from Puerto Rico’s sustainable fair-trade coffee farm for $90 (limited to 10 shares) or the "smoothie special" banana share (10 lbs additional) per week for $120 (limited to 15 shares).

How to Register

We are now accepting registrations for our Winter 2013 CSA season. Our first harvest begins January 31, 2013, so we ask that you please register before December 31, 2012.

You may now register here and pay up front for the entire season, which will secure your share in our Winter 2013 CSA.  All you have to do after that is pick up your food every week at the location of your choice (see registration form for details).

How to Submit Payment

Full payment is required to secure your share. Payment deadline is December 31 and any registrations not paid by the deadline will be released to other registrants. Please let us know if your check is in the mail. 

Pay by check
You may send a check written to “Ridge to Reef Farm” to this address:

Ridge to Reef Farm
PO Box 2903
Frederiksted USVI, 00841

Pay with PayPal
Please contact us at 340.220.0466 or info@visfi.org for PayPal payment instructions.

Shares are locked in once we receive full payment. Thank you!

Please note: A CSA is a shared risk/benefit business model to secure local food production. There are no guarantees about what or how much you may receive each week. Farming is a risky business, with storms, fires, or acts of God that sometimes make farming difficult. There are always losses, but thanks to our 10 years experience of growing to the strict USDA organic standards here in the USVI, we know how to put fine, tasty food on the table year-round, and satisfied members of past CSA seasons here agree.

Also, a weekly produce delivery is just one of the many returns on your investment in Ridge to Reef Farm. We encourage you to take advantage of many of the opportunities here, such as volunteering on Saturday morning, when you can learn more about our sustainable farming practices and even get a chance to get your hands dirty and experience farming for yourself! We love when CSA members contribute their own recipes to the CSA newsletter, and in general participate in the conversation and creative process with us. We have a beautiful property, a wealth of knowledge, and a lot of heart to share with you all, so come and be a part of it!

Thanks for growing with us,

Nate, Shelli, Claudia, Francia, Danielle, Jim, Sarah, Matt, Troy, Andrew, & Dennis, and all the others past and future at Ridge to Reef Farm

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