News!
Naturally grown Turkish figs are ripening on the mature tree at Buckingham Garden in Henrico Co. Try them, figs are rare, delicate and compliment other Agriberry fruits.
Marketed exclusively by Agriberry at select farm market locations, and Secco's in Carytown.
Below is an excerpt about figs from www.welovesuperfoods.com
Health Benefits:
- Figs have the highest overall mineral content of all common fruits. A 40 gram (1/4 cup) serving provides 244 mg of potassium (7% of the DV) (four figs will contain slightly more than one cup of orange juice), 53 mg of calcium (6% of the DV) (ounce for ounce, figs have more calcium than milk) and 1.2 mg of iron (6% of the DV).
- Good source of Vitamins A, B, and C
- Contain pectin
- High in antioxidants
- According to Gabriel Cousens, M.D., figs help increase serotonin.
- Figs are high in fiber, providing 20% of the Daily Value - more dietary fiber per serving than any other common dried or fresh fruit. Of the approximately five grams of fiber per serving of figs, four grams are insoluble and one gram is water-soluble.
- Contain ficin, a proteolytic (protein breaking) enzyme similar to papain in papayas and bromelin in fresh pineapple. Proteolytic enzymes split long chain protein molecules into subunits.
- Good source of the indigestible food fiber lignin which retains water and helps bulk up the stool. Together, lignin and ficin make dried figs an efficient laxative food.
- Figs are fat-free, sodium-free and, like other plant foods, cholesterol-free.
Suggested Uses:
- Figs can be substituted for raisins or prunes in some recipes where a variation is welcomed.
- Blend into smoothie as a whole-food sweetener.
- Chop into small pieces to sweeten your trail mix.
- Use in your favorite dessert recipe.
- Add to your favorite granola recipe.
- Just eat 'em!
All ripening seems to continue to be about 10 days earlier than usual this harvest season. We have noticed that each crop harvest is finishing more abruptly than typical.
CSA shares in August will include sometimes more, sometimes less an array of late summer berries and fruits. True to a CSA, our abundance or lack is shared with our members. We will be including berries but supply may be limited due to the bizarre ripening and harvest patterns farmers are experiencing in 2010. Thankfully, peaches from the Westmoreland orchard are long established and abundant this year. We are leaning heavily on the tasty peach parade of varieties for multiple share units too. Hanover neighbor George Rice once more has saved a portion of his summer abundance to allow us to include a mini seedless watermelon or cantaloupe again.
Our mission to develop a premier training program for motivated first time workers is moving forward. This is a process that is involving lots of learning opportunities for all of us. Thanks to everyone's texting ability progress with clear communication for daily scheduling of workers is coming together. Quality picking techniques are improving for some faster than others. Thanks for your patience!
We always are seeking chefs and local retailers to add to our list of priority wholesale buyers. If you are one yourself or know someone that qualifies, please contact us with your wholesale needs for fresh picked berries. Even if the harvest for 2010 has passed too quickly for your favorite berry, not too early to be on board for 2011.
The sun is rising and the berry plants are blessed to have trickle irrigation at Agriberry - Cultivate A Taste For Life!
Greetings,
The wonderful fresh local Strawberry and Asparagus season is upon us!
1. THE AGRIBERRY CSA 1st WEEK PICKUP WILL BEGIN THE FIRST FULL WEEK IN MAY the 4th, 5th, and 6th.
Tuesday May 4 At 9077 Atlee Station Rd Mechanicsville 3-6pm and Byrd Market 4-6pm 224 So. Cherry St Richmond
Wednesday May 5 at Lakeside Farmers Market 4-6pm 6110 Lakeside Ave.Richmond, VA 23228 and West End Market 3-6pm at 12450 Gayton Rd, Richmond
Thursday May 6 at 17th street market 9-12noon downtown, and Great Big Greenhouse Market 11-2pm 2051 Huguenot Road Richmond
2. We will be attending from 8 a.m.-noon the following ADDITIONAL Farmer's Markets
starting with the season opening date Sat May 1:
SATURDAY-FARMERS MARKETS (NO AGRIBERRY CSA DELIVERIES ON SATURDAYS)
1. St Stephens Church Market 6000 Three Chopt Road at Grove Ave
2. South of the James Market locate Forest Hill Park at Forest Hill Ave & 42nd Street
3. Monument Market CHMONDGayton Rd. 12450 Gayton Rd.
Bring on the berries...as we Cultivate A Taste For Life!
Berry best regards to all,
Anne Geyer and the Agriberry Team
Greetings Virginia berry lovers
Spring is in full swing on our Agriberry Farm - the thousands of raspberry and blackberry plants over the 10 acres are pushing new leaves, new primocanes, and the flowering trusses are emerging! It is a sight to behold. With most of the varieties trained up on trellising now it gives a true 3-D scope to the farm site. It is tough for pictures to capture any farm emerging in the spring...but I know you can imagine it!
Spring is also THE key time for Community Supported Agriculture memberships for a share in the Agriberry harvest.
Choosing to support the annual start up of a local farm business is valuably significant for all parties involved. As owner of Agriberry I can gratefully say that support by Agriberry CSA members has been vital to the progress of the project since 2008. To recap, in '08 CSA support funded the introduction of our fresh,local berries and fruits in the summer time. Plus the Agriberry CSA pickup site infrastructure was created. In 2009, CSA memberships allowed Agriberry to expand the locations for CSA pickups. Most importantly the 2009 CSA funded the 10 acre prototype farm establishment. It requires about $10,000 an acre to start a berry planting.
In 2010 expanded CSA support is being applied toward the 2nd year care and most importantly to fund the training and support toward the first worker portion of the Agriberry mission. Therefore CSA members may enjoy the fruits of all 3 years of labors in 2010! Bring on the berries...as we Cultivate A Taste For Life!
Berry best regards to all,
Anne Geyer and the Agriberry Team
Agriberry mid March info
Greetings Agriberry and fruit locavores,
FAQ of the month: question-a few of our 2010 members have emailed queries about having sent in the application/check how do they know they have been accepted for the Agriberry season? Answer-the following is on the application just after the address to mail: "If we receive your application after the membership is full, payments will be returned and you will be contacted about joining the waiting list. Therefore as the old adage goes: "no news is good news" for your membership. If your check has cleared at the bank then your application has been accepted along with your first choice pickup location. As we become more proficient with list management and maybe time management too, we can improve this procedure for next year.
1. It is official WestEnd Farmers Market *will be the Agriberry west end in Richmond Wednesday CSA pickup location! Interest for this location is strong so those of you that have been waiting I hope this will help you decide to apply and mail in soon.
*The location is in front of Ollies Bargain Outlet at the Corner of Gayton Rd. and Ridgefield Pkwy. We share the same parking lot with Ollies. As far as a street address, you can use 12450 Gayton Rd. Richmond, VA 23238.
2. A few are wondering why we did not make the Saturday morning at St Stephens Market a CSA pickup location. The reason being, that we were able to attend it in the fall when we had a good supply of both Agriberry Farm's Raspberries and Westmoreland Farm's apples and cider. In May the volume of Strawberries and Asparagus may be too variable for certain Saturday supply. By June it is quite likely that at least the Agriberry Blackberry and assorted Raspberry harvest will be plentiful to attend more Saturday markets.
Again a really big "Thank You" to our returning and new CSA members for sending in your '10 applications. Your committment to support local farming creates a wonderful local community synergy.
Greetings CSA members,
We are going to harvest the final amazing raspberries at our Agriberry farm on Friday.
So come by on Saturday for the last South of the James Farmers Market off Forest Hill Ave.
Besides raspberries, I am bringing Honey Crisp and Pink Lady apples plus (purple raspberry) royalty berry jam!
Another good holiday gift idea is the one time Agriberry Gift Share; for friends/associates or to donate to winter fund raising events. Also this is a good opportunity to drop by with your 2010 CSA deposit as others did last week.
So bundle up the family (and your dog) come for the adventure of a local winter season market!
For first time visitors - South of the James is a dog friendly market!
Hope to see you Saturday, December 5 between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Thank you for 30 weeks of great local market support,
Anne and Agriberry helpers!
Our young Agriberry team picked a few more flats from our healthy, hearty plantings this week.
We will be at St. Stephens Market 4:00-7:00 today (6000 Grove Ave.). While there, I have the opportunity to talk with 18 Girl Scouts about my “outdoor occupation”! A new chance to share our Agriberry motto “Cultivate a Taste for Life”.
Thursday, Agriberry will be part of the end of season market 11:00-2:00 at “The Great Big Greenhouse” located at the corner of Huguenot and Robious Rd. FYI…this will be a new 2010 CSA pickup site – come check it out!
2010 deposit information will come out on Nov 20th. Thanks for your support of Agriberry.
The Agriberry CSA share season has finished up with the extra extension last week! Although we were rained out from picking for the week 3 Saturday pickup, overall it was a bountiful success and there were nearly 700 half pints of wonderful Agriberry raspberries for all to enjoy.
I will be attending the last of the scheduled 2009 markets this week, Tuesday at Byrd Center from 3-7 and Saturday at St Stephens Church from 8-12. Bringing raspberries, apples and cider one last time so come on by while you can. Both sites ( St Stephens will be on Wednesday's in the winter from 4-7 NOT Saturday's after the 31st) offering "renegade markets" for the other months starting in November. As no frost is called for I may attend in early November, but email me to confirm if you have an interest in a particular item or are planning to stop by.
Also,if you have any trays to be returned this will also be a great opportunity to bring them back before the winter.
The end of season follow up survey will be coming to you within the week, so please be sure and complete it - feedback is always helpful!
For 2010, we will send out an announcement in November to all of our '08 and '09 members allowing you to put a deposit down before the end of year to hold your place and price before opening to the general interest group. For 2010 there will be limited space at each pickup location so we want our "regulars to have first choice".
Thank you all so much for a bountiful 2009 season,
Anne and team Agriberry!