Even in the midst of a global pandemic, there’s never been a better time than now to support local farmers. It’s a win-win situation: You support the farm’s efforts to bring the community locally grown produce and keep them afloat financially, and in return, you get fresh produce, meat and dairy products to stock your fridge.
With empty grocery store shelves, as well as the warm temperatures hinting at peak fresh produce season, it’s time to sign up for The Corner Store Waterford’s farm share partnerships, or the shop’s own Locavore’s Kitchen Basket.
Northern Virginia residents have the option to sign up for a local farm share membership (as well as a coffee or beer subscription) and choose The Corner Store Waterford as the pickup location for every Tuesday, from 2 to 6 p.m.
Farm share memberships (also known as Community Supported Agriculture, or CSAs) include Second Spring Farm in Wheatland, Open Book Farm in Jefferson, Maryland, Teague Farm in Purcellville, Georges Mill Farm in Lovettsville, Greenstone Fields in Wheatland, as well as Aperture Coffee Roasters and Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery.
Each farm is offering a different local product, from fresh vegetables and eggs, to goat cheese and fresh-cut flowers. Weekly and seasonal rates range from $50 a week and up, to seasonal memberships over $700. The season for each farm varies, but most last from June to November, with several offering weekly or biweekly pickups of products, as well as early-season add-ons to get fresh produce as soon as May.
For those looking for a little bit of everything, The Corner Store Waterford has curated the Locavore’s Kitchen Basket (it comes in omnivore or vegetarian options), which includes fresh vegetables, a whole chicken, a dozen eggs, a pack of chèvre cheese, 1 pound each of lentils, flour, wheat berries and oats, and 1 quart of berries as they ripen (including strawberries, blueberries and blackberries).
It’s $75 to $95 per week, depending on the dietary option you choose, and could replace a majority of those grocery store trips you’ve been avoiding, keeping your family and community safer during COVID-19.
Interested residents must sign up for the Locavore’s Kitchen Basket by Friday, May 1, and the boxes will start being distributed by Sunday, May 17 through Thursday, Nov. 19. Farm share sign-ups vary, but interested participants should sign up no later than the second week of May to ensure they get a spot.
As The Corner Store in Waterford has served the community for over 200 years, this is just the newest iteration of the business continuing to evolve. Aside from picking up your produce, once the store reopens, you can also find vintage clothes, knickknacks for your home and lots of local products by regional makers. // The Corner Store Waterford: 40183 Main St., Waterford
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