Take Advantage of Airlie’s Top Crops
It’s not too late to stock your fridge with farm fresh fruits and vegetables while supporting American University.
Sign up is still underway for the spring 2024 Airlie Berkshire Farm community supported agriculture (CSA) program, which will bring a cornucopia of produce directly to campus for nine weeks starting May 29. Subscribers will receive 10–12 pounds of produce each week, plucked from the fields just a day or two before it’s delivered.
“You’re going to get a really good value for your money,” said Mike Scher, assistant vice president for campus auxiliary services and Airlie. “If you were buying the same thing in a grocery store, it wouldn’t taste as good.”
Once at least 10 subscribers are secured, participants can choose delivery to the AU farmers market on the quad from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays; 4401 Connecticut Avenue; or the Washington College of Law.
Subscribers can also choose from three packages and durations of 9 weeks (one season), 18 weeks (two seasons), or 27 weeks (three seasons):
AU and Airlie launched the CSA program in June 2023, strengthening the connection between main campus and the historic property, located about 50 miles away in Warrenton, Virginia. Each year, the farm produces about 20,000 pounds of crops.
After securing 50 inaugural CSA subscribers last summer, participation doubled in the fall session. Scher hopes to draw 200 subscribers this year.
Andrew Toczydlowski, director of graduate student success and office management, was among the initial subscribers to last year’s CSA program.
An avid supporter of farmers markets and CSAs in DC, Toczydlowski and his husband, Nolen, enjoyed getting creative with their Airlie produce, making veggie pasta dishes, casseroles, and zucchini bread and pickling cucumbers.
“Being able to give back to the community by supporting the CSA was something that really appealed to my husband and me,” he said.
Toczydlowski enjoyed how the boxes evolved with the harvest, from squash in the summer to apples in fall. He also ordered meat from the farm, which he picked up at the same time each week.
“I really appreciated being able to get it on campus,” Toczydlowski said. “I didn’t have to worry about things sitting out in the sun on my front porch.”
Corn and red, white, and blue potatoes are new to the shares this year, along with a variety of seasonal berries, broccoli, squash, herbs, cucumbers, zucchini, apples, and more. Boxes will also periodically feature recipe cards with ideas on how to prepare the produce.
Shares that are not claimed each week will be donated to the Market, AU’s food pantry for students. Members of the AU community can also support the program by making a gift to the Market. Also, for every three shares the Market purchases with donated support, Airlie Berkshire Farm will gift a fourth share.
“Don’t miss out on signing up,” Scher said. “It’s a really good program designed to support all the facets of the community.”
Learn more information and sign up for the CSA program here.