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As you’re likely aware from your own trips to the gas pump or the grocery store, or from the avalanche of recent newspaper and TV reports, fuel prices (and as a result, the price of all consumer goods) have increased steeply over the last several months. The increase in fuel prices directly affects Green Thumb Farm, which makes a weekly roundtrip of nearly 200 miles to deliver to the Cobble Hill CSA. Like many other CSA farms, Green Thumb Farm, set its contract prices early this spring. Not wanting to change the contract price, our farmer, Bill Halsey, proposed cutting share sizes by approximately 7 percent to compensate for fuel prices. However, survey responses from the 2007 season indicated that a majority of members were pleased with the size of the vegetable share. Based on this information, as well as discussions with a sampling of members, the Core Group reasoned that members would prefer to pay a modest increase to the CSA in the form of a fuel surcharge, rather than having to supplement a reduced share with additional (and more expensive) trips to the grocery store or farmers market. As a result, the Core Group has asked Farmer Bill to maintain the share size from last year. In order for this to happen, however, CSA members will need to contribute a per share fuel surcharge of $30 (just over $1 a week) for the season. This would raise the price of a basic vegetable share to $450. To put this price increase in context, Green Thumb has not raised its prices since 2006, and previous share price increases have been very reasonable. Compared to other CSA groups in New York City and beyond, $450 for a 28-week season is still one of the best deals around. The philosophy behind Community Supported Agriculture is to support local family farms. Please help us to meet both Farmer Bill’s operating costs and your interest in maintaining a hearty share of local, organic produce by contributing a fuel surcharge of $30, payable either by cash or check payable to the Cobble Hill CSA at our first 2008 distribution on June 3. We will be accepting payments at the distribution site through the end of June. If you have any questions, please contact Jeff Axelrod (Jaxelrod666@gmail.com) or Chris Caveglia (cjcaveglia@yahoo.com). Farmer Bill will be on hand at the distribution site on June 3 to say hello to members and to answer questions. Thank you for your cooperation and continuing support. Sincerely, The Cobble Hill CSA Core Group |
