Freezing fruit

Drying fruit (oven method)

Drying fruit (dehydrator)

Canning fruit

If you have an experience you'd like to share here on the site or any other advice, please let us know - we'd love to hear from you!

AGRIBERRY'S MISSION is to establish community supported summer berry fields and be a premier training facility for motivated first time workers.

In 2008, Anne Geyer was awarded a USDA Specialty Crop Grant to start a business to inspire a new generation of specialty crop farmers. Anne, with the assistance of New Visions, New Ventures, wrote the Agriberry business plan and with support of Sprout Advisory of Richmond, launched a nine week pilot CSA. As this pilot quickly demonstrated Richmond’s eager demand for an assortment of fresh, local, seasonal berries and fruits, Agriberry premiered as one of the nation’s first berry and fruit CSAs.  Agriberry has now acquired land and infrastructure of its own, and supportive relationships with other trustworthy farmers have allowed Agriberry to supply fruits and knowledgeable service to our CSA community.

In 2009, Agriberry leased 10 acres of Hanover farm land for the production of raspberries and blackberries. Then, in 2011, the Geyers bought 25 acres also inHanover. This newly planted Agriberry acreage currently consists of red raspberries, black raspberries, purple raspberries, blackberries, peaches, nectarines, plums, and cherries.

Farming fruits involves multi-year investment for sustainability. While site selection and infrastructure for strawberries and blueberries continues, partnerships with other family farms allow us to provide this year’s fruit. Additional berry, fruit, and CSA items are sourced directly from other family farms, on geographic sites known to have better growing conditions for the best quality production.

The Geyer family has been involved in berry and fruit farming since 1980.  Anne and Chuck Geyer met at the University of Maryland Horticultural research farm while working on a USDA berry production study.  In 1982, as newly weds, they moved to Virginia and established a berry farm for partners of Westmoreland Land Company, where they gained over 25 years of experience growing and marketing 60 acres of assorted berries and tree fruits. Now, farming independently and on their own land, the Geyers maintain leadership involvement locally, regionally and nationally in the fruit industry to stay up to date in sustainable production practices, allowing Anne and Chuck to have key relationships with other farmers that grow the best of a wide variety of fruits.

Extended family participation has always been instrumental in Geyer farming history.  Agriberry now has satellite CSAs in Annapolis and Williamsburg, run by Anne’s sister Susan and niece Ellen, respectively. Now in their 20s and in college, Geyer children Pierson, Colleen and Mary Claire grew up with the joys and demands of family farming. All three still contribute to Agriberry with valuable leadership, abilities and interests in the field, working with CSA members and staffing the area’s farmers markets. 

Peaches

Peach Salsa Fresca
Peach Melba
Joyful Peach and Blueberry Pie
Black Bean and Peach Salad
Curried Peach Chicken Salad
Summer Peach and Blueberry Bread

Raspberries

Blueberry Raspberry Smoothie
Custard and Raspberry Parfait
Spinach with Warm Raspberry and Goat Cheese Dressing
Red Cabbage with Raspberries

Apples

Frosted Cider Cupcakes
Apple Pie with Cheddar Crumb Topping
Curried Quinoa with Apples
Gala Hors d'Oeuvres

Blackberries

Best Ever Blackberry Ribs
Spiced Yogurt with Blackberries

Squash Blossoms

Baked Squash Blossoms

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In addition to our agricultural goals and missions, Agriberry also has a social one: to be a premier agricultural training facility for motivated first-time workers. Through this mission, Agriberry aims to integrate young teens into the agricultural workforce, providing them with opportunities to pick our fruit during weekends and their summer break. The goal of the program is to empower a new generation with hands on farming skills; young workers, through this program, learn valuable job and social skills while simultaneously supporting community-based agriculture.

Applications for the 2012 Young Worker Training Program will be posted closer to the start fo the harvest season. 

Download the 2012 applications below:

Richmond

Anne Geyer

anne@agriberry.com

Williamsburg ( 2012 coming soon)

Ellen Frackelton

ellen@agriberry.com

Annapolis  (2012 coming soon)

Susan Noyce

susan@agriberry.com

At Agriberry, we strive to treat the Earth well in hopes that she will return the favor. Though we are not certified organic, we use as many organic practices as we can when growing our fruit. We also follow Extension Service guidelines for growing and harvesting our product. Utilizing Integrated Pest Management (IPM), we focus on sustaining a healthful and natural multi-year farm planting. These practices help to minimize the effects of disease, insects, and compounding weather patterns.

Local Harvest - Community Supported Agriculture
The best and freshest food is what's grown closest to you. Use this Web site to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies.

Sprout Richmond
An all volunteer community supported agriculture group that is committed to the growth and success of local, sustainable, artisanal farming serving the Richmond, VA metro region.

Lakeside Farmers Market
Where you can pick up your Agriberry produce!

Virginia Future Farmers of America (FFA)
Virginia is where the very first Future Farmers of America club was formed back in the 1920's, Hanover County has one of the highest FFA membership numbers in the commonwealth. Agriberry hopes to offer local FFA members a new type of entreprunerial farming experiences!

North American Bramble Growers Association

Nutrition:

Weston A. Price Foundation
Dedicated to restoring nutrient-dense foods to the human diet through education, research and activism.

George Mateljan Foundation
A not-for-profit foundation with no commercial interests and a new force for change to help make a healthier you and a healthier world.

Events:

Hanover Tomato Festival

Other sites of interest:

New Visions, New Ventures
Is a non-profit community economic development organization that fosters small business development, job creation, financial literacy and asset building.

News:

CSAs share the bounty and risk of eating local
March 25, 2009

Small Farm Renaissance
March 13, 2009

Farm Bureau promotes local produce products
August 20, 2008

VDACS Awards Nine Specialty Crop Block Grants
June 5, 2008 

See Agriberry owner and project coordinator Anne Geyer on Virginia Home Grown!

Virginia Home Grown #1004: Agriberry from Community Idea Stations on Vimeo.

Richard visits AgriBerry Farm to discuss raspberries and blackberries.

What fruit and berries may be included in my share?

Strawberries, Sugar Snap Peas,
Asparagus, Blueberries, Cherries,
Raspberries: Reb, Purple, and Black,
Blackberries, Blueberries, Peaches, Apples
Peaches, Melons, Pears, Rhubarb, and Nectarines

  The preceding list is not a comprehensive one; members are not guaranteed to receive all of the aforementioned produce. It is intended to give you an idea about what could be coming, based on ideal weather and harvest conditions. Periodic updates via email or the Agriberry Facebook page will be provided throughout the season describing current crop conditions. In order to offer members the best variety, some of the items in the shares are sourced from regional farmers whom we personally know and trust. If we trust them, you can too!