Multi-farm produce program enriches local scene

IAN PUGH
Posted 5/31/17

What can you do to support local farms? The Lackawaxen Farm Company (LFC) of Honesdale brings the solution to you with its community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, a multi-farm system that …

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Multi-farm produce program enriches local scene

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What can you do to support local farms? The Lackawaxen Farm Company (LFC) of Honesdale brings the solution to you with its community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, a multi-farm system that distributes fresh meat and produce across Wayne, Pike and Sullivan Counties. LFC is establishing multiple pick-up sites for consumers, from Jo Rob’s Naturals in Honesdale to Tusten Cup in Narrowsburg, from the E. B. Crawford Public Library in Monticello to Vintage Kitchen in Clarks Summit—and from these and more locations, the CSA will offer a variety of season-specific packages geared to specific needs: fruits and vegetables in large and small shares; “butcher boxes,” featuring multiple cuts of chicken and beef; and “add-ons” that offer pork and eggs to go along with them.

The LFC CSA incorporates products from over 25 regional farms and producers, including Willow Wisp Organic Farm, Delaware Valley Ramps, Maple Hill Farms, Chaljeri Meats and the Anthill Farm, the family farm of LFC’s founder, Eusebius “Sky” Ballentine.

“Sky created this some years back as a way to distribute not only his farm’s food, but the other farms that he worked really close with in the region,” says Jennifer Bitetto, general manager of LFC. “Because that’s the struggle—how do these farms find ways of proper revenue streams and distribution channels? So the warehouse itself sits right on the Anthill Farm, and he invested in a refrigerated truck, and started working with the farms right around his general area in PA. It’s since grown to include farms from New York and out further in the Wayne County area, out even towards Scranton.”

In widening the scope of their goals, LFC chooses its farm partners based on careful consideration of regional needs and services. “The main basis to the program is organic practice,” Bitetto says. “We don’t necessarily require organic certification, because we all know the complexities of that, but we do work closely with the farms to determine their practices, and as long as their practices are in line with organic certification, we will consider adding them as one of our producers. That goes for the meat as well—we’re looking for 100% grass-fed, pastured animals.

“…Basically, it becomes ‘what type of items do these folks have,’ and ‘what areas do we still need product for’—and the beauty of it is, as we grow, we need more farms. So it’s a beautiful thing—we’re always looking for more farms to join in… to meet the demand.”

The LFC CSA program distributes every Wednesday or Thursday, depending on location, May 31 through December 21; a winter season—a rarity in the realm of community-supported agriculture—will begin after a holiday break. It operates by open enrollment, and participants can join or cancel at any time; this year, LFC has introduced an auto-debit system to simplify the process. For more information about specific packages, pick-up sites and a full list of producers, visit LFCfresh.com or call 570/253-1308.

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