Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Merchants' Gate CSA?
Why do I pay for the entire season before I receive any produce?
Who runs the Merchants' Gate CSA?
What is expected of CSA members?
How long is the harvest season?
What if I need to sell/transfer my CSA share before the end of the season?
How often will I receive produce?
How much produce will I get?
Can I split a share?
What if I cannot pick up my share?
Besides produce, what else can I get through the CSA?
How do I join? How much does it cost?
What is Winter CSA?
How can I get more involved in the CSA?
What/where is Merchants' Gate?
More questions?
What is the Merchants' Gate CSA?
We are a cooperative of community members committed to bringing seasonal, local, organic produce to the Hell's Kitchen and Lincoln Square area. We partner with Zaid Kurdieh of NOFA-NY certified Norwich Meadows Farm in Norwich, New York, approximately 3.5 hours north of New York City. During the harvest season, which runs approximately mid-June through mid-November, our membership receives and distributes a weekly delivery of freshly harvested produce at The Church For All Nations on West 57th Street, just west of Ninth Avenue. Read more about community supported agriculture on the Just Food website.
In addition to supplying produce to CSAs around the city, Zaid and his crew set up stands at local Greenmarket farmers markets throughout Manhattan. Visit him on Saturdays at the Union Square Greenmarket, or Sundays at Tompkins Square (7th Street and Avenue A).
Why do I pay for the entire season before I receive any produce?
Your advance payment helps the farmer purchase seeds and equipment for the upcoming season without having to rely on high-interest loans. Members invest in a "share" of the harvest, and accept to take on both the risks and rewards of the growing season. Your support keeps organic farmers in business, and organic produce accessible to city residents.
Who runs the Merchants' Gate CSA?
You do! The CSA is a member-run, volunteer-based organization: we couldn't exist without your support and participation. A core group within the membership has been designated to facilitate logistics; CSA members meet and unload the produce truck, set up the site weekly, and help distribute produce and products for their fellow members. Your core group members for the Summer/Fall 2009 season are:
Kristen DiNicola (accounting)
Barbara Gorman (secretary)
Amanda Henry (delivery liaison)
Vanessa Ip (volunteers)
Michelle Miller (farm liaison)
Alex Sweeton (technology)
Miguel Zapico (data management)
Jennifer Zogg (events)
What is expected of CSA members?
Members sign on for the entire harvest season: mid-June through mid-November. As the CSA is a community endeavor and entirely volunteer run, members must commit six hours of their time per season to the CSA, most often by meeting and unloading the delivery truck (midday) or working at the weekly site distribution (2-hour shifts from 2:45pm to 8:15pm during 2009 -- shift times are subject to change for 2010). A very limited number of non-site related opportunities may be available throughout the season: contact the volunteer coordinator to check availability.
Members who fail to complete their required volunteer hours by the end of the season will have future CSA membership privileges revoked.
In addition, CSA members are required to join the Merchants' Gate CSA Google Group groups.google.com/group.merchantsgatecsa, which is our primary means of distributing information to our members and the easiest way for members to communicate with one another. You may set your preferences to receive new messages as soon as they are posted to Group, once daily, or not at all. However, if you'd prefer not to receive any email from the Google Group, you must proactively log in to the Group once a week (at least) for information about your weekly share, and to be kept up to date on any CSA developments and announcements.
How long is the harvest season?
Our Summer/Fall 2009 season ran for 22 weeks -- 20 weeks for fruit shares -- from June 10 through November 4, 2009. Actual dates for the 2010 will be set closer to the beginning of the season but will run similarly for 22 weeks.
Our Winter Share runs for five months with one distribution date per month. For more information on Winter Share, review the Winter Share FAQ below.
What if I need to sell/transfer my CSA share before the end of the season?
The CSA allows shares to be transferred mid-season: members must make their own arrangements and notify the core group of the share ownership change. This ensures that we have an accurate CSA membership list and that only authorized individuals are picking up items at the site. Please note that all outstanding volunteer requirements are transferred along with shares.
How often will I receive produce?
Members pick up their produce and optional egg and dairy shares each week on a regular distribution day at The Church For All Nations (417 West 57th Street). Optional fruit shares are delivered weekly or bi-weekly, depending on the share type purchased. The day and times for distribution will be chosen several weeks prior to the start of season per the Farm's delivery schedule and the schedule of our host, CFAN. For your reference, in 2008, distribution day was Thursday from 3-6:45pm; in 2009, it was Wednesday from 3-8pm.
How much produce will I get?
The amount of produce received each week will vary, but typically a share will be comprised of enough organic produce to feed 1-2 people for the week. Each share contains 5-8 different items, which will vary by season. While the exact crops may change from year to year, we have prepared a downloadable excel chart of last season's vegetable and fruit deliveries which you may review as a reference. Also:
Early to Mid-summer: cooking greens, lettuce, corn, cucumbers, broccoli, peppers, squash, radishes, fava beans, Japanese eggplant, kohlrabi, Napa cabbage, scallions, garlic scapes, cardoonMid-summer to Fall: tomatoes (cherry, red and green), potatoes, swiss chard, onions, beets, carrots, celery, bok choy, peppers, squash, garlic, fennel, turnips, watermelon
Can I split a share?
Yes. It your responsibility to notify the CSA with the name and contact information of your share partner. The number of volunteer hours required remains six per share. You may also double a share if you are purchasing for a family (or just want more organic produce!) with the same six-hour volunteer requirement. For those who split a share, please note that the entire contents of your share must be retrieved at one time. We cannot hold produce for your partner to retrieve later.
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What if I cannot pick up my share?
We encourage all members to be diligent about picking up their weekly share, or to make their own alternate arrangements for a designee to pick up their shares if they will be unable to get to the site before 8PM on pick-up day. Absolutely no produce or products can be held after site closing; all unclaimed produce or products are donated to the Church For All Nations at shift's end.
Besides produce, what else can I get through the CSA?
The Merchants' Gate CSA offers an optional fruit share (weekly or bi-weekly), and optional weekly egg, milk, yogurt and cheese shares. Twice during the season, we host a "Market Day" during which we offer our members the opportunity to place a la carte orders for products from our other partnered suppliers, which include eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese, butter, beef, chicken, granola, honey and maple syrup.
How do I join? How much does it cost?
For Summer 2010, produce shares are $300 each. For orders placed and paid in full prior to January 20, 2010, there is a discount reducing the price to $290. In addition, each member/family must pay a $15 administration fee with their initial veggie subscription. The $15 administrative fee is applied towards CSA website fees, site supplies, special events and other costs associated with running the Merchants' Gate CSA. If you order two or more shares for your family, the administration fee is waived for the additional shares.
Registration is now open for our Summer 2010 share! To apply for membership, download the form here.
In coming months, add-on subscriptions for fruit, eggs, milk, yogurt and cheese will be offered at additional cost. A form will be posted at that time for those additional products. Please note: You must have at least one veggie subscription in order to subscribe to add-ons. No add-ons are offered without that subscription.
What is Winter CSA?
Our partnership with Norwich Meadows Farm doesn't end with the close of our Summer/Fall share. By enrolling in our Winter Share program, you can continue to receive organic produce and products throughout the Winter and Spring while supporting our farms and farmers through the lean, cold Winter months.
Winter shares are bundled differently from our Summer/Fall shares. Instead of offering supplemental subscriptions of eggs and dairy in addition to produce, we offer two types of all-in-one shares -- Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian or Ominivore -- at $265.00 each for 2010, which includes a $15 CSA administrative fee. Both types of shares are set to be of roughly equal market value.
Members are required to volunteer 2 hours on site during the winter season. For your reference, we have prepared a spreadsheet listing the contents of each of our distributions last winter. We urge you to review it for a sense of the type and quantity of items that can be expected for our winter share. Naturally, this is not a guarantee, but a guide.
Membership for 2009/2010 Winter Share is now closed as distributions are underway. If you are interested in applying for next Winter, please check back here in early Fall for more information.
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How can I get more involved in the CSA?
We invite you to reach out to a core group member with your ideas and to inquire about other opportunities. We will be planning a series of community building and educational events throughout the season.
What/where is Merchants' Gate?
Merchants' Gate is the southwest entrance to Central Park, located at the intersection of Central Park South and Central Park West, directly across from Columbus Circle.
More questions?
Send us an email: merchantsgatecsa(at)gmail.com