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Community Supported Agriculture In Full Swing At Fulton Farm
DAVE LEFEVER
Lancaster Farming Staff
CHAMBERSBURG
(Franklin Co.) Chambers
burg-area residents who want
fresh, locally grown food can
find it just about all year long
at Fulton Farm on the campus
of Wilson College.
Customers buy seasonal
shares in the community sup
ported agriculture (CSA) op
eration and receive a weekly
supply of “certified naturally
grown” vegetables in return.
“Certified naturally grown”
is a relatively new designation,
Have A Place For A Pond?
Here Are A Few Points To
Consider Before Taking The Dive
MICHELLE KUNJAPPU
Lancaster Farming Staff
BRICKERVILLE (Lancas
ter Co.) Perhaps it is that
comer of the yard that could
use a new look.
Maybe it is the section of
the deck that would lend itself
to an added attraction.
Possibly it is the appeal of
having colorful fish and
throaty, croaking frogs on the
property.
Whatever the reason, home
Putting Water To Work
Fish Hatchery Finds Opportunity In Niche Market
MICHELLE KUNJAPPU
Lancaster Farming Staff
MERCERSBURG (Frank
lin Co.) If any other farm
family would see that 300 of
their acres are under water,
they would call it a disaster.
For some operations, how
ever, land under water is the
necessary element to grow the
operation’s cash crop: fish.
At Mount Parnell Fisheries,
Incorporated, the fish saved
by their flashy colors and
translucent fins are not
headed for<a grocery store son
Lancaster Farming •
meaning food produced in
compliance with certified or
ganic standards but without
the paperwork and certifica
tion fees to back up the claim.
In this case, neighboring farm
ers inspect the operation.
That system makes a lot of
sense on Fulton Farm, accord
ing to Matt Steiman, farm
manager.
“There are those of us who
don’t have time for all the pa
perwork or money for the fees,
yet still grow by the same
methods,” Steiman said.
The cost and time required
owners are lining up to put in
liners and begin ponds in their
backyards.
An Increasing Trend
Brian Smith, water garden
manager at Esbenshade’s
Greenhouses and Garden
Centers, describes the interest
as “an ongoing trend that’s
been increasing over the last
5-10 years,” he said.
“I think people are spend
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seafood market.
The business sells 15 types
of ornamental fish to distribu
tors who then merchandise
the fish to pet shops or water
garden centers.
The 300 acres of water in- continental U.S.
elude more than 300 ponds Half of the crop is feeder
ranging from a quarter acre to fi s h _ the smaller, more mod
six acres in size. e st “Comet” goldfish that
Approximately 60-70 dis- owners feed to their larger,
tributors buy the fish. “Most tropical fish,
of our customers get fish 52 Besides the comet goldfish,
weeks a yem-,” said Mike Rice, Shubunkin (ca lico-colored
manager of the family busi-
. ........ ...V. .•(TurntoPage El 9).
i tICSSe {.{iff.
Section E •
for organic certification would like this one, where most of
be prohibitive for a small farm the produce is picked up by
Matt Steiman, manager at Fulton Farm, grows ex
tended-season spinach, mixed greens, and other
vegetables in two passive solar greenhouses.
Photo by Dave Lefever
With Consumers, Product Integrity
Critical To Survival Of Organic Label
ANDY ANDREWS
Editor
BIRD IN HAND (Lancas
ter Co.) For consumers to
rally around the organic ideal,
first there has to be integrity
and trust in the process,
according to Leslie Zuck, ex-
Thirty percent of the fish
are exported to countries such
as the Netherlands, Germany,
Belgium, Spain, the United
Kingdom, Mexico, Canada,
and Puerto Rico, besides the
Saturday, May 17, 2003
*
ecutive director of the Penn
sylvania Certified Organic
(PCO) Association.
Zuck spoke at PCO’s Or
ganic Standards and Produc
tion Workshop in early March
at the Bird In Hand Family
Restaurant.
Mount Parnell Fisheries, Inc. sells 15 types of or
namental fish to distributors. Mondays may start at
5 a.m. for employees such as Herbert Hostler, who
need to get the fish off to the airport for ship
ments Photo by Michelle Kunjappv •*
f.f i i t 4 y A’yyjr *• * * • * * 4 * * « * «
customers on the farm, Stei
man said. Visitors are wel
come to see any aspect of how
their food is grown and
many of them do.
“It’s great here,” said
Donna Nordin of Fayetteville.
Nordin and her two chil
dren, Bailey, 5, and Leo, 2,
took a casual tour of the
greenhouses and farm on
April 29, the first CSA pickup
for the 2003 growing season.
“We eat a lot more vege
tables since we get them every
week,” Nordin said.
Steiman and his partner,
Jenn Halpin, are responsible
for growing and distributing
produce for about 90 CSA
members and their families
from April through Novem
ber. About 30 members cen
trum to Page EIO)
Ensuring that trust with
consumers often takes time
and can be involved, but in
spectors are necessary to en
sure the “viability of the sys
tem you have developed,” said
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