DATE: 9/6/05

CONTACT: Beth Wall-Bassett, (864) 656-1261

WRITER: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741

Applications being taken for ag products at Clemson

CLEMSON – Clemson University’s Calhoun Field Laboratory, a student- run certified organic farm, is taking applications for their fall harvest of organically grown vegetables, herbs and cage-free eggs from the Morgan Poultry Center. This year meats from the Clemson Meat Laboratory will also be included.

The program is called Campus Supported Agriculture (CSA), which is a partnership in which growers and consumers share benefits and risks equally. Members receive the freshest and most in-season foods available.

The concept of CSA originated in the 1960s in Switzerland and Japan. It was introduced in the United States in the 1980s and has been growing in popularity ever since. The basic idea is that a group of individuals buy shares in an agricultural operation. These shares are used to cover the expected costs of the operation. In return, the shareholders receive a specified portion of the bounty throughout the growing season.

In the summer of 2002, the Sustainable Agriculture Program initiated a modified version of a CSA. It was called the Calhoun Field Laboratory Campus Supported Agriculture (CFL-CSA). All available shares were purchased. Clemson University President and Mrs. Jim Barker were among the subscribers. The program took off from there.

The vegetables and herbs are grown on the Clemson University campus by students. The program runs for 6 weeks. The meat portion of the program will last for four weeks.

“The program is for everyone, not just the Clemson University community,” said Beth Wall-Bassett, CFL marketing coordinator.

Each Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m., Oct. 12 to Nov. 16, participants will come to the Calhoun Field Learning Laboratory off Perimeter Road, to pick up their share of the crop, which will be enough produce, eggs and meat to feed a family of four.

The cost for a full membership which includes meats, produce and eggs will cost $250. A six-week produce and egg shares will cost $150 and a four-week meat share will cost $100. The deadline to enroll is Oct. 3 or when all available memberships are filled. The enrollment is on a first-come first-served basis.

Not only do the students run the CSA program, they also hold a CFL Farmer’s Market each Friday during the growing seasons, from noon to 3 p.m., in Room 109 of the Hendrix Student Center. Fresh cage-free eggs, organic vegetables, cut flowers and herbs are among the items that can be found for sale at the farmer’s market.

For more information on the CSA program, or to register go to: www.clemson.edu/scg/sust/calhounfieldlab_csa.html .

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