The Trustees of Reservations announced on May 6 that Moraine Farm in Beverly is now offering shares in a Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA).

CSAs offer community members the opportunity to buy fresh, local, seasonal food directly from a farmer by purchasing a share in the farm. Shareholders buy into the farm as members at the start of the growing season, and in exchange receive a weekly allotment of the farm’s harvest. Shareholders and Moraine farmers share in both the risks and the many rewards of the growing season, which include weekly access to tasty, locally grown, nutritious vegetables – all grown without synthetic chemicals or pesticides. 

This year’s Moraine Farm CSA season will begin in early June and run through late October. Share pick ups are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays from 2-7 p.m. at the farm, which is located on Cabot Street in Beverly. Share sizes are intended for either one or two adults, a small family or someone new to a CSA who wants to start out with a small share.

CSA crops planned for 2011 include arugula, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, broccoli raab, carrots, cantaloupe, cauliflower, cabbages, sweet corn, chard, collard greens, celery, celery root, cucumbers, edamame, eggplant, escarole, fennel, herbs (basil, cilantro, dill, marjoram, parsley, summer savory, sage), kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, leeks, onions, potatoes, peas, pie pumpkins, parsnips, peppers, radishes, radicchio, sweet potatoes, spinach, scallions, summer squash, salad turnips, tomatoes (slicing and cherry),  watermelon, winter squash and zucchini. There will be peas, cherries tomatoes and pie pumpkins available as pick-your-own crops.

For current Trustees members, a full share costs $500 for the season. For non-members, a full share costs $550 and includes a Trustees membership.

You can sign up by visiting www.thetrustees.org/morainefarm. For questions about the Moraine Farm CSA contact CSA manager Gretta Anderson at 978-969-1738 or e-mail ganderson@ttor.org. For more information on The Trustees of Reservations visit www.thetrustees.org.