Share Options

In addition to organic veggies, we offer shares of a number of other local products, all delivered to your depot. Here is a description of the different options available through the FDC.

 

Organic Veggie Share, small or large size:

Our veggie selections arrive weekly from mid-June to late October for 20 weeks, following the growing seasons in New England. Selections come from a number of farms in and around the North Shore, the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. We strive for 100 percent organic, but some items, like corn, are difficult to grow organically in New England. In the rare instance where we may offer some non-organic items, they are raised in an environmentally sensitive, IPM fashion, and always marked as such at the depot.

A small veggie share receives 4-6 units per week; a large veggie share receives around 8-10 units per week. A unit could be a head of lettuce, a pound of tomatoes, or a bunch of greens.  Shares tend to be smaller in the beginning of the season, and larger toward the peak of the growing season when there is a greater variety of produce available.

For example, one week in September, small shareholders received:

  • 1 pound heirloom tomatoes,
  • 4 ears organic sweet corn,
  • 4 units choice.

Large shareholders got:

  • 1½ pounds heirloom tomatoes,
  • 6 ears organic sweet corn,
  • 7 units choice.  

Choices that day included: Beets with greens, jalapenos, red radishes, arugula, zucchini, cucumbers, green peppers, lettuce, lacinato kale, collards, potatoes, carrots, fresh onions, and tomatillos. For more on how to select a share size for your household, see the FAQ.

What items will be available each year depends on what the farmers choose to grow and, and of course, the whims of New England weather. When we are seeking a specific crop, we will occasionally work with a farmer to grow it specifically for us.

Here is a partial list of items shareholders have seen over past few seasons at the depot:
Spinach, lettuce (green leaf, red leaf, romaine, green, Boston, red Boston), greens (Swiss chard, kale, arugula, mizuna, tatsoi, vitamin green), snap peas, radishes, summer squash, hakari turnips, parsley, dill, cilantro, basil, cucumbers (slicing & pickling), beets, fresh onions, green beans, tomatoes ("greenhouse", beefsteak, cherry & heirloom varieties), green peppers, fennel, carrots, hot peppers, eggplant (regular & Japanese), new potatoes, red peppers, broccoli, leeks, hard squashes, garlic, shallots, cabbage, celeriac, cauliflower, turnip, Brussels sprouts, parsnips... and more.

 

IPM Fruit share, small or large size:

Over the years, as interest in local produce has increased, FDC has been able to increase both the number of deliveries and the variety of fruit in our fruit share. In recent years, shareholders have received items such as: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, black raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, peaches, grapes, red and black currants, nectarines, pears, cantaloupe, watermelon (Red & Yellow), cranberries, cider, and jam.

The FDC is able to provide fruit for shareholders almost every week of the season. Because of the difficulties of growing fruit in New England, our selections are organic where possible. When that is not possible, we choose farmers who follow an integrated pest management approach to managing disease and insects. With this system, practitioners use the fewest chemical interventions and least toxic methods possible to maintain healthy crops. For more on IPM, see our FAQ.

Following is an example of a small and large share from one week in September last year. Small shares got:

  • a small watermelon,
  • 1 pound of peaches,
  • 1 pound of plums,
  • ½ pint of raspberries and
  • a pound of apples.

Large shares got:

  • a large watermelon,
  • 1.5 pounds of peaches,
  • 1.5 pounds of plums,
  • ½ pint of raspberries and
  • 1.5 pounds of apples.

 

Cheese share:

A tour of New England through local cheeses, the cheese share offers about 15 deliveries of small-batch dairy goodness from critically respected and award-winning producers like Valley View, Neighborly Farms and Great Hill. Cheeses are sometimes organic, always made from local milk and always delicious. Many of these cheeses are made from raw milk, most use vegetarian rennet, some do not. Please inquire further if necessary.

 

Chef’s share (formerly the Herb Share):

In a unique partnership with The Herb Farmacy, an organic herb farm and crafter of fine culinary seasonings, we offer an herb and exotic seasoning share. Shareholders can expect 10 deliveries per season, including live plants at the start of the season to add to your garden, a variety of dried seasonings, seasoning salts and flavored vinegars, in addition to lovely fresh cut herbs and edible flowers.

 

Bread share:

We work with A&J King Artisan Bakers in Salem and Iggy’s Bread of the World of Cambridge to offer an enticing assortment of handcrafted loaves and rolls, baked fresh and delivered to your depot. Our bread share contains a selection of fresh-baked breads such as olive rolls, traditional sourdough, baguettes, cranberry walnut mini pullmans and lovely whole grain loaves. Both bakers are known for quality and dedication to local ingredients. Bread is delivered to your depot 19 times -- almost one a week! So skip the extra stop, or the long lines at the Marblehead Farmer’s Market and sign up for your bread from us.

Extended Season Shares

After the regular season ends, you may continue getting fresh, local veggies by signing onto the November share (formerly "Extended Season") and the December share. 

November share consists of two pick-ups two weeks apart at your regular depot on your regular depot day. Each pick up is about double the large share size, consisting of both fruits and vegetables. About half of our members opt to stay in for November.

Bulk order at the end of the regular season is for members who would like to stock up on certain items. We will put the order form up in late October, and deliver to depots generally the second week of November. We typically offer carrots, potatoes, squash, onions, apples, maple syrup, and more—it’s a great way to get your Thanksgiving goodies and stock up for winter while supporting local farmers.

December Share (Formerly "Winter Share") will be delivered to your depot for members who sign up in early December. That single large pick-up offers a final hurrah from every share type: bread, a wedge of cheese, an herb, and lots of veggies, apples and cider. For more details or to sign up, contact Tamara (at) farmdirectcoop(dot)org