Local organic farm Fairview Gardens will deliver fresh produce every Thursday to UCSB’s Bren Hall through its Community Supported Agriculture program.

A non-profit farming organization running out of the Gardens’ Center for Urban Agriculture, the program distributes organic food to five delivery locations in Goleta. Prices vary by season and range from $215 to $255 for standard rates and $375 to $447 for family rates for 10- or 12-week periods.

[media-credit name=”PHOTO COURTESY OF Lisa Lynch” align=”alignleft” width=”250″][/media-credit]Farm manager Toby McPartland said the farm sends different produce each week, including common food items such as tomatoes, avocados, peppers, mandarins, peaches and strawberries, as well as more atypical ingredients such as fava beans, turnips, arugula, rainbow chard and leeks.

“We change items each week for variety so our customers aren’t tired of always eating the same fruits and vegetables,” McPartland said.

CSA coordinator Lisa Lynch said the program aims to inform the community about local sustainable farming.

“The delivery program is a way for students to experience fresh local products that are healthier for our bodies,” Lynch said. “If you consume the food that’s grown locally, it helps your body get more in tune with its environment.”

McPartland said the program helps customers make a healthy lifestyle change.

“We provide our customers with recipes each week for the produce in case they don’t know how to incorporate it into their diet,” McPartland said. “We also have different events every year on the farm, including work days and classes that teach people how to maintain their own gardens.”

Fairview Gardens executive director Mark Tollefson said the organization is designed to connect consumers directly with Santa Barbara farmers.  Current customers of the Fairview Gardens can buy produce directly from the farm — located on North Fairview Avenue in Goleta — or stop by one of its delivery locations. The business hopes to add a more centralized pick-up location on campus in the near future.

“Green agriculture yields superior quality food,” Tollefson said.

“What we’re modeling at Fairview is really working on building good soil to create sustainability,” Tollefson said, “because soil is the most important part of the farm.”
For information on Fairview Gardens or to register for weekly deliveries, visit www.fairviewgardens.org.