What is a CSA?

CSA is an acronym for Community Supported Agriculture. The farmer and the consumer enter into a contract where the farmer agrees to provide produce for a predetermined number of weeks at a set price. This is called a "share". Full and half shares are available for purchase. In Japan, where CSA's began over 40 years ago, the word for CSA is teikei – "putting the farmer's face on food". This aptly expresses the foundation of CSAs. The consumer has knowledge of where the food is grown and the practices utilized by the farmer.

The farm's greatest expense occurs in late winter or early spring, months prior to harvest (i.e. seeds, transplants, labor, and supplies). Your CSA share helps fund these costs and allows you to make an investment in the farm. It ensures you receive the freshest produce while forming a relationship with the farmers growing your food. Most produce sold in grocery stores and served in restaurants has traveled more than 2,500 miles. All produce sold on our farm is grown right here with a few exceptions: Watermelons and Cantaloupes are from Lois's Produce in Westmoreland County; Apples, Peaches, and Nectarines from Jenkins Orchard in Sperryville; Blueberries are from Gold Hill Blueberry Farm in Unionville; Shiitake Mushrooms are grown by K&T Specialties near Elys Ford; Asparagus and Sugar Snap peas are from Snead's Asparagus Farm in Caroline County. In combining efforts with other local farmers, we are able to bring you a greater variety of fresh high quality produce. By harvesting every day, (except Sunday) we are also able to optimize the freshness of our produce. In addition, we operate a Market on our farm and sell to several restaurants.

Included in the first box is The Practical Produce Cookbook. This cookbook is packed with great recipes utilizing the vegetables that we are offering in our CSA, even those that may be less familiar. We will also be including our own recipes and recipes from Chef Keith Click (a chef at Wegmans) so that you can learn to eat "in season".

Harvest Chart

Want to know what we've got growing and when it's in season?  Check out our Harvest Chart!

Farming Practices and Philosophy

We are not an organic farm, but we do use IPM (Integrated Pest Management). When using IPM a farmer scouts his fields for a threshold of insects before spraying. If the threshold is not reached, then we do not spray. We follow the label on the product and wait more than the suggested days to harvest. We use natural and sustainable methods of farming such as companion planting, no till planting (planting directly into the sod), and plasticulture. Plasticulture is the practice of growing crops on plastic mulch. A machine lays long rows of plastic in the field over rows of soil that have been mounded up to a height of 8". Under the plastic is irrigation (drip tape) for the plants or seeds. Mounding the soil up helps with drainage and facilitates harvest. We poke holes in the plastic and put the vegetable transplants in or put the seeds in the hole. This is very efficient because it reduces runoff from irrigation and puts the water at the roots of the plants, resulting in less water being used. The need for herbicides is greatly reduced because the plastic prevents weeds from growing. We also use different colors of plastic mulch which deters bugs, allowing us to use less pesticide. Remember, we are eating our own produce and feeding it to our own families. We are the second,third and fourth generations to farm this land. We are passionate about farming and want to sustain our land for future generations. Farmers are the original environmentalists. Without our land we would not be able to continue to support ourselves, our community, and our future.

CSA Shares

The shares are limited and are on a first come first serve basis. Miller Farms Market Spring/Summer 2012 season consists of 20 weeks starting the last week of April/first week of May. You may either purchase a half share or a full share.

A half share is a weekly share of produce for 2 – 3 people, equivalent to $25/week, totaling $522.75 (includes tax and $10.00 deposit for 2 boxes) for the 20 week season. A half share volume of produce is equivalent to ½ bushel (roughly a full grocery bag).

A full share is a weekly share of produce for 4 or more people, equivalent to $50/week, totaling $1,045.50 (includes tax and $20.00 deposit for 4 boxes) for the 20 week season. A full share volume of produce is equivalent to 1 bushel (roughly 2 full grocery bags).  You may make payments as long as final payment is made by the deadline.

Pick–up Times and Location

The pick-up site is Miller Farms Market located at 12101 Orange Plank Rd, Locust Grove, VA 22508. You must select one designated pick up day that remains in effect during the length of the agreement. Choices are Tuesday - Saturday, 1pm-4pm. See the application for more details concerning vacations, etc. We encourage you to coordinate pick–ups with friends to help save time and gas.

How to Join

To join Miller Farms Market CSA for the 2012 Spring/Summer season, go to our website millerfarmsmarket.com to download and print out an application. You can also stop by our Market to pick up an application. Mail the completed application and a check to Miller Farms Market at 12101 Orange Plank Rd, Locust Grove, VA 22508. Credit card payments will need to be transacted at our Market location. Please retain a copy of your completed application for your records.

The deadline to sign up is March 1. A discount is available for early birds – see the application for details.

Download the CSA application now!

Food Donation

In an effort to be good stewards, we support the food pantry at Saint Faustina Conference Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. They are located in the Breezewood Shopping Center off of Courthouse Road. All boxes of produce that are not picked up on their designated day and any produce from your share that you do not wish to take home will be donated.