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One way Vermonters are ensuring this doesn't happen is through Community-Supported Agriculture (C.S.A.) Farms. C.S.A. members purchase a share at a participating farm. They pay for their share at the beginning of the growing season and then all season long, the week's freshest pick is theirs to take home. Some farms will do the work for you, while others offer the opportunity to venture into the fields and pick your own.
The C.S.A. concept is about more than good food. It is a promise that farmers enter into with members of their community to ensure that the family farm will continue to grow and prosper. The community benefits from healthy food and they know where it comes from and how it was grown. And the beauty and serenity of the farm stays in the community.
While the majority of C.S.A. farms offer produce, some offer fruit, flowers, meat and other agricultural products. Some farms even partner with other locally owned businesses to provide their members with Vermont products such as breads and cheeses.
If you can't get to the farm every week or you are just in Vermont on vacation, there are other ways to support Vermont's C.S.A. farms. In addition to selling shares, many farms bring their fresh produce to local farmers' markets throughout the summer.
The Vermont Fresh Network serves to build partnerships between farmers and restaurants. While visiting Vermont, be sure to check out those restaurants displaying the Vermont Fresh Network logo to ensure the food you are getting is fresh and locally grown.
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