This list of Frequently Asked Questions is not meant to be exhaustive, and will likely continue to expand as we do. If you have more questions for us, do not hesitate to contact us at info@arlingtongardens.ca.
Arlington Gardens’ CSA Basket/Share Program
A vegetable AND fruit basket – how exactly does it work?
Are your vegetables sorted and washed?
Does a weekly share include everything available that week?
What if I forget my weekly share, or if I cannot make it?
What farm events, if any, do you have planned for partners?
All Things Organic
How does a farm obtain organic certification?
Why is organic food more expensive?
How big is the organic food market?
Arlington Gardens’ CSA Basket/Share Program
Vegetable AND fruit baskets – how exactly does it work?
We produce mostly vegetables for our CSA shares. In 2009 and 2010, we began planting berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc.) for u-pick and for market which we began offering in 2011, and a variety of fruit trees (apple, pear, plum) which will take a few years to mature. Because they offer a nice additional touch, we intend to include small quantities of berries in the CSA shares as they become available throughout the season. If you are interested in larger quantities, we will in due course make forms available at our drop-off locations for discrete “side-orders” of berries to be delivered along with your weekly CSA basket for as long as quantities last. We will also encourage you to come pick your own berries at the farm during high season. (FAQs)
Not yet, although we hope to eventually. Winter shares typically include vegetables that are easily stored (late fall harvest vegetables (cabbage, etc.), winter squash and various root vegetables (turnips, carrots, parsnips, etc.). We will let you know if and when they become available. (FAQs)
Are your vegetables sorted and washed?
Yes, as required. Our CSA shares contain top quality produce. Each week, crops are selected for peak readiness, hand-harvested, and sorted for size and quality. We do not include damaged or un-fresh veggies. Salad and cooking greens, like lettuce and spinach, are usually rinsed and bagged. Root crops – carrots, beets, potatoes, etc – are rinsed and bunched. It is generally not necessary to wash vegetables such as tomatoes, zucchinis or melons. (FAQs)
Does a weekly share include everything available that week?
Not necessarily. We try to keep shares practical and interesting, and to this end, some crops may not be included every week. Some examples of when an available crop may be excluded are summer squash (when several varieties mature at once – we may choose different varieties for different drop-off customers), beets (this is a very prolific crop – but some people tire of them, so we try not to offer them for a month straight), lettuce (another prolific crop – where we may mix red, green, curly, leaf, etc. depending on available quantities). (FAQs)
We determine share contents every week based on the harvest. The whole concept is to let us “share” the fruit of our labour with you, and to have you discover a broader variety of vegetables than you may otherwise select on your own. The range of vegetables which can be grown right here in Quebec is quite large. That being said, if you hate artichokes, we won’t force them on you! We will always bring extra vegetables to allow you to trade those artichokes for something else. (FAQs)
What if I forget to collect my weekly share, or if I cannot make it?
On principle, a forgotten share is a forsaken share. Collecting your share is your contractual engagement. If you can, please try to make arrangements with a friend, family member or work colleague to pick it up on your behalf. (FAQs)
For scheduled holidays, you may arrange to either (i) have someone else take your share while you are gone or (ii) double up your shares upon your return to catch up. Please let us know which option you prefer BEFORE you leave. We do not refund vacation shares. (FAQs)
Visitors are welcome, but if you can, let us know beforehand so we can ensure someone is available to greet you. Driving instructions and a suggested cycling circuit are available on our website. (FAQs)
What farm events, if any, do you have planned for partners?
We hope to celebrate the last days of summer and host a BBQ or a méchoui towards the end of the season for our partners. Check our website for more info later this season. (FAQs)
All Things Organic
Organic farmers grow without using synthetic chemicals. In Canada, as in many other countries, most fruits and vegetables are grown with the help of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and other petroleum by-products – almost all of which are more or less toxic. Animals are fed antibiotics and hormones. Organic farming is predicated on a fundamental respect of nature, while benefiting from scientific advances and ongoing advances in soil chemistry. (FAQs)
In everyday life, we use the term “organic” to describe food produced without pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or GMOs (genetically modified organisms). In addition, though, in North Amercia and Europe, only “certified” organic food may be sold as such. (FAQs)
How does a farmer obtain an organic certification?
To become organically certified, a farmer must:
- Study the standards to be met by the farm with respect to all aspects of its operations, i.e. buildings, water supply, soils, farm equipment, sanitary processes, seeds and other inputs, cultural, harvesting and warehousing methods, transportation and distribution – the checklist is long.
- Make changes, where and as necessary.
- Apply, by filling out several pages of forms on the farm history, its actual and projected use, with details on the fields, planned crops, crop rotations, fertilisation methods, irrigation, pest control, harvesting and warehousing methods, etc. An updated plan must be submitted yearly.
- Undergo inspection, which takes the shape of a farm visit and on-site interview. Typically, the inspector is an independent agent who is not an employee of the certifying body. Inspections are yearly – there can also be « surprise » inspections.
- Pay certification fees to cover inspection and certification costs. These are payable annually.
The farmer must maintain records of all activities related to operations, sales & marketing and administration, such as dates and details of soil preparation, crop monitoring, compost application, etc). All inputs must be documented. Partner information must be in order. All documentation must be up-to-date and available for inspection at any time. (FAQs)
Why is organic food more expensive?
Organic food prices are often compared to supermarket vegetable prices. They should not be. Supermarket vegetables are mass products grown on very large commercial farms whose productivity depends on the aggressive use of fertilizer, pesticides and other toxic products. They rely on large machines to ensure automated planting, harvesting, processing and packaging. To guarantee “perfect” fruits and vegetables, they grow few varieties in industrial quantities to ensure a uniform look and feel which facilitates storage and transportation. Chemical products are applied to stimulate the ripening of fruits and vegetables harvested too early, to improve their colour and to lengthen shelf life during a field-to-table cycle that can take many days or more. In contrast, organic fruits and vegetables are selected for their flavourfulness and variety, grown naturally to preserve their nutritional value, harvested when they are ripe, and sold without the addition of chemical preservatives. The price differential reflects the fundamental difference between mass-produced items and naturally-grown quality products. (FAQs)
How big is the organic food market?
A recent global survey of certified organic farming by The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Geneva) and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM, Germany) documents the rapid development of organic agriculture. Its share of agricultural land and farms continues to grow in many countries. Survey stats show:
- 32.2M hectares of agricultural land are managed organically by more than 1.2M producers (2007)
- The regions with the largest areas of organically managed agricultural land are Oceania, Europe and Latin America. Australia, Argentina and Brazil are the countries with the largest organically managed land areas; the highest shares of organically managed land are in Europe (Liechtenstein, Austria and Switzerland).
- About one third of the world’s organically managed land – almost 11M hectares – is located in developing countries. Most of this land is in Latin American countries, with Asia and Africa in second and third place. Countries with the largest area under organic management are Argentina, Brazil, China, India and Uruguay.
Land Under Organic Management in 2007, Source: FiBL, IFOAM
Global demand for organic products remains robust, with sales increasing by over 5B USD a year. Organic Monitor estimates international sales to have reached 46.1B USD in 2007. Consumer demand for organic products is concentrated in North America and Europe; according to Organic Monitor these two regions comprise 97 percent of global revenues.
In North America, almost 2.2M hectares are managed organically, representing approximately a 0.6% share of the total agricultural area. The major part of the organic land is in the US (1.6M hectares in 2005). Seven percent of the world’s organic agricultural land is in North America. Valued at more than 20B USD in 2007, the North American market accounted for 45 % of global revenues. Growing consumer demand for healthy and nutritious foods and increasing distribution in conventional grocery channels are the major drivers of market growth. The U.S. organic industry grew 21% in sales in 2006, and was forecast to experience 18% sales growth each year on average from 2007 through 2010. Likewise, the outlook for future market growth in Canada is good. (FAQs)
The 2012 Season is Here!
“It’s only February, but our seeds have arrived, the tractors have been tuned and except for a few sundry winter chores, we’re gearing up…” (read more, or cut to the chase and download our 2012 registration form)
Arlington Gardens welcomes you (see our photo gallery)
