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Jordan
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Jordan River Farms in Huntly maintains those ideals while moving the farm into the 21st Century’s economic marketplace.
One of the few farms in the area to participate in consumer-supported agriculture (CSA), Jordan River Farms is expanding its market from local pick-your-own strawberries to an innovative distribution method involving shareholders.
The concept of CSA originated in Japan and Switzerland and has recent become popular in the United States. The concept — where shareholders buy a “share” in a farm and receive fruits, vegetables and other grown items from the farm during a designated period — is a breakthrough in modem farming.
“This is a common effort to grow and produce a type of vegetable a consumer wants to buy,” according to Miriam Harris, owner of the 370acre Jordan River Farms in Flint Hill.
She said that “with this system, the farmer is guaranteed a buyer for his goods, a reward for his work.”
“This offers a way for people to stay in farming” at a time when farming is often unproductive and economically unpredictable, Mrs. Harris said, adding it is not necessarily “a profitable way of farming, but offers the farmer a chance to trade stability for profit.”
“It’s a type of insurance,” said Michael Judge, marketing director for the farm.
“With this method the farmer is getting retail price for his work and is guaranteed a return, even when there is failure,” said Mr. Judge.
The shareholder buys a share —a full share at Jordan River costs $500 and feeds a family of four; half shares are $275 — and signs a contract stating he or she will pay for weekly delivery of fresh goods from mid-April until November, granting some things fail due to drought, frosts, too much rain or insect damage.
Shareholder payments support seed costs, fertilizers and pesticides, labor costs, equipment maintenance, delivery of goods and other farm essentials.
Payment plans are available — monthly, quarterly, annually or by personal choice.
“No money is exchanged when produce is presented,” Mr. Judge said, adding the method of payment
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