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The Cumming Harvest
thecummingharvest@live.com
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THIS WEEK…Flowers – Squash – Tomatoes – Berries!

Happy Independence Day to everyone out there! Today is the day we celebrate our independence from the tyranny of a king, but it’s also a great occasion to think about our independence from all sorts of things. Your support of The Cumming Harvest greatly helps the cause of food independence for our community, for starters. Did you know that, on average, American farmer receives only nine cents out of every dollar that gets spent on food? By the time you take out the cut of the processors, the distributors, the wholesalers, and so forth, only 9% is left for the farm. And of course, they’ve got to try to meet all of the expenses of running a farm with that money, and pretty much the only way to do that is by consolidating the farmland into huge “corporate” farms that can get by with the economies of scale. The farms might be independent family-owned enterprises on paper, but they’re beholden to all of those other interests that control the other 91% of the food dollar. Here at The Cumming Harvest, the growers keep 90% of every dollar, turning small, truly family owned and operated farms into viable businesses. That fosters variety for you, provides a sustainable use of the area’s green space, and helps us to be a more self-reliant community.

For you, too, these growers and their products let you become independent from the corporate grocer, who is told by the corporate office in Cincinnati or Bentonville or Asheville what they can and can’t stock and who they can source their produce from. You’re given the freedom to choose who grows and produces your food and how they grow and produce it. If you don’t like one grower’s products or methods, you have others, all located right here, to choose from.

And of course by sourcing your food so close to home, you don’t have to be reliant on an overtaxed and under-vigilant inspection system to make sure your food is safe. The Federal government is actively trying to reduce your ability to choose where your food comes from in the name of safety, so not everything is rosy. Our fight for independence is an ongoing one, and your voice in support of the small local producer does get heard.

Carrell Farms and Buffalo Gal are on vacation this week.

To view the harvest today and tomorrow till 8pm, visit “The Market” page on our website, The Cumming Harvest

To Contact Us

The Cumming Harvest
thecummingharvest@live.com
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WHY BUY LOCAL?

Our farmers are dedicated to stewardship and committed to quality. And while they love what they do, many aren’t doing it as a hobby. They need to make a living. Consumers that value fresh food and a working landscape support local farmers by buying their products. Here are some reasons why:

LOCALLY GROWN food tastes better and is better for you. The crops are picked at their peak, the shorter the time between the farm and your table, the less likely it is that nutrients will be lost. Food imported from far away is older and has traveled on trucks or planes, and sat in warehouses before it gets to you.

Local food preserves genetic diversity. Smaller local farms often grow many different varieties of crops to provide a long harvest season, an array of colors, and the best flavors.

Local farmers aren’t anonymous and they take their responsibility to the consumer seriously.

Local food supports local families. The wholesale prices that farmers get for their products are low, often near the cost of production. Local farmers who sell direct to consumers cut out the middleman and get full retail price for their food – which helps farm families stay on the land.

Local food builds community. When you buy direct from a farmer, you’re engaging in a time-honored connection between eater and grower. Knowing farmers gives you insight into the seasons, the land, and your food. In many cases, it gives you access to a place where your children and grandchildren can go to learn about nature and agriculture.

Local food preserves open space. When farmers get paid more for their products by marketing locally, they’re less likely to sell farmland for development.

Local food benefits the environment and wildlife. Well-managed farms provide ecosystem services: they conserve fertile soil, protect water sources, and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. The farm environment is a patchwork of fields, meadows, woods, ponds and buildings that provide habitat for wildlife in our communities.

Local food is an investment in the future. By supporting local farmers today, you are helping to ensure that there will be farms in your community tomorrow. That is a matter of importance for food security, especially in light of an uncertain energy future and our current reliance on fossil fuels to produce, package, distribute and store food.

To view the harvest today and tomorrow till 8pm, visit “The Market” page on our website, The Cumming Harvest

Market News

The Cumming Harvest is open for orders!

Eggs As of this writing, we unfortunately don’t have any eggs available this week. I think we have close to 8 doz in the market fridge and those will be sold first come first serve on Saturday at pick up. There are some farmers on vacation and I’m guessing the chickens have started protesting the heat. Even though we have eggs available throughout the year, there are still waves of supply and this week we are experiencing the low end of the wave. Eggs will be back soon, stay tuned.

Summer Veggies There is a good variety listed of summer veggies this week: Beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, garlic, kale, various lettuces, onions, rutabagas, squash, chard, tomatoes, and zucchini.

Summer Fruit Blueberries have started to come in and we also have raspberries and peaches.

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CANE CREEK FARM
Our Lunch N’ Learn series will be held on the second Wednesday of each month, March through October, 11 AM – 1 PM. Enjoy an active learning experience and a farm lunch! More information on our website (and registration coming). Topics and dates:

July 13– Arrange garden flower bouquets
August 10- Plant an organic fall garden
September 14 – Identify medicinal plants and their uses
October 12– Grow shitake mushrooms, inoculate a log
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To view the harvest today and tomorrow till 8pm, visit “The Market” page on our website, The Cumming Harvest

To Contact Us

The Cumming Harvest
thecummingharvest@live.com
Facebook
Twitter

THIS WEEK…

The market is now open for online ordering.

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SURVEY…
What are some ways Forsyth County could improve the local food system?
What type of activities or events would you like to attend that highlight local food?
Reply back to this email with your thoughts. Thanks so much!

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To view the harvest today and tomorrow till 8pm, visit “The Market” page on our website, The Cumming Harvest

To Contact Us

The Cumming Harvest
thecummingharvest@live.com
Facebook
Twitter

THIS WEEK…

We’re starting to see more summer veggies coming in this week. Look for Beans, Beets, Squash, Zucchini and even some Cherry Tomatoes online.

Did you know that all of our veggie farmers are within only 30 miles from Cumming? Cane Creek Farm, MJ Fruit & Veg, Weedy Soil Farm are all in Cumming. Heirloom Gardens grows from Dahlonega and Leilani’s Produce is grown in Dawsonville. We are very lucky to have these passionate growers so close to us and all growing sustainably. Support local farmers by making a point to purchase from growers that actually grow the food they sell.

Eggs We have a limited supply of eggs this week. Please limit your orders to no more than 4 doz per family.

Watsonia Farms has listed yellow clingstone peaches online. These are certified organic peaches, so they will need to be consumed or preserved within the first 3 days of pick up. Clingstone’s will be available through the end of June. Freestones are available from end of June through the end of August.

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SURVEY…
What are some ways Forsyth County could improve the local food system?
What type of activities or events would you like to attend that highlight local food?
Reply back to this email with your thoughts. Thanks so much!

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To view the harvest today and tomorrow till 8pm, visit “The Market” page on our website, The Cumming Harvest