Meet Chubeza – A CSA Farm in Israel
Our piece of land
It was October 2003 when we saw our field for the first time. We fell in love immediately. The ground was filled with man-high weeds, but we knew this was a promise of fertile soil. Our field, about 2 acres, is located between Latrun and Ramla. A tree nursery providing beauty and shade surrounds us, and to the north are the hills, fields and homes of the Ayalon Valley. The land owner is Liora Poker, who farmed it organically for almost 20 years. We continue this tradition by growing more than 100 different vegetables and herbs, distributed to our customers through a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program. We are still 'green' in this business, yet we are growing with the new plants in our fields. Like these saplings, we are brimming with energy and hope to flourish with abundant yields.
Who We Are
Alon Efrati, manager and co-owner. During his studies at the Hebrew University Faculty of Agriculture in Rehovot, Alon established an organic home vegetable garden where he studied and experimented with a variety of natural ways to grow plants. He worked in the vegetable garden of a permaculture farm in South Africa, and is extremely knowledgeable about medicinal herbs, native plants and nature. Alon has worked in Chubeza from the farm’s early days, and has served as the field manager. Since late 2004, he has run all operations at the farm.
Amir Lev, field manager. A long time worker at Chubeza, Amir is also a graduate of Hebrew University’s Faculty of Agriculture in Rehovot. He has always had a penchant for growing plants and learning from doing. Since summer 2005, Amir has served as our field manager, assisting Alon run the daily operation.
Bat-Ami Sorek, founder and co-owner. An experienced counselor and educator, Bat-Ami studied and worked in organic farming in California. She studied Urban Gardening in San Francisco and worked at organic farms in the San Francisco Bay Area, including one in which she managed the multi-crop vegetable garden. Bat-Ami gained experience in different methods of direct marketing from farmer to clients, including Farm Stand, Farmers Market and CSA. Since November 2004, she has taken a more “behinds the scenes” role at Chubeza, writing the weekly newsletter.
Yisrael Dancziger, Bat-Ami’s partner and the winds beneath Chubeza’s leaves… Yisrael is a founder and CEO of high-tech businesses. In his spare time he fixes the irrigation, helps plant lettuce, or weeds the onions.
We'd like to personally invite you to join us in a unique, new experience in Israel: Community Supported Agriculture
What is Community Supported Agriculture?
A CSA is a direct, cooperative relationship between farm producers and community members. The CSA concept is a product of the turbulent '60s -- in Japan. As the country faced a loss of farmland due to development, a growing infiltration of imported foods, and the resulting exodus of farmers to cities, a group of Japanese homemakers approached a local farmer with the idea of making a financial commitment to the farm in exchange for fruits and vegetables. They entered into a contract, or teikei, literally "partnership," but philosophically "food with the farmer's face on it." The concept took root and eventually spread.
How does this work?
You subscribe for a weekly fixed box of fresh produce from our organic farm
(all of our clients receive basically the same box), located at Moshav Kfar
Ben-Nun, near Latrun. In exchange, we grow quality vegetables and herbs just
for you. Every week we pick the produce and deliver it to you immediately.
All the crops are grown organically, healthier for the customer, the farmer
and the soil. The farm is supervised and certified by "Agrior",
Israel organic inspection agency. This relationship facilitates financial
income for a small farm and provides members with fresh, unique produce.
The farm's CSA delivers fresh seasonal produce weekly throughout the year.
The contents of the box reflect the seasonal availability of the Ayalon Valley
and vary from week to week. Each CSA box contains our weekly newsletter,
offering news of the farm, recipe ideas, and storage and preservation tips
for featured produce.
Why join a CSA?
You receive very fresh produce. Within 24 hours of harvest. This assures
that your food will be nutritious and delicious. Most of the produce in
supermarkets has traveled from far away, sometimes overseas. Lacking freshness,
the taste and nutritional value suffer as well. Just bite into a fresh
ear of corn and you will feel the difference…
You are introduced to new varieties of seasonal produce. We grow superior
and unique varieties which not available in mass-market grocery outlets.
We are open to your requests and feedback. Our newsletter is filled with
creative ideas on how to prepare and store your fresh produce (and here too
your input is valued).
You will know where, how, and by whom your food is grown. More information
emerges daily linking health to diet and the quality and freshness of the
food we eat. The choice of your family’s farmer is as important as choosing
your rabbi, doctor or lawyer. We take the responsibility for growing your
family's produce very seriously. To enrich your experience, farm visits are
welcome – from time to time we will have a farm day, you and your family
will be invited for a farm tour and festivities.
Your money goes directly to the farm and the people who grow your food. Every
shekel of your share goes directly to the farm. A similar purchase at a supermarket
may return a farmer as little as 20 percent. By participating in our CSA
you are supporting the farm’s community of year-round employees with steady,
fair wages. Your financial support is a vote for the organic small farm.
You get organic produce at a fair price. We price our box to be competitive
with the neighborhood green grocer (conventional veggies). Since we are getting
the full price you pay for the vegetable, without the added expense of middlemen,
everybody wins: For a reasonable price, you can enjoy a delicious, diverse
organic produce selection.
The Box: What vegetables are included? In what quantity? At what cost?
Every week you receive 10-15 different fresh organic vegetables, plus a
weekly newsletter bringing you updates from the farm, recipes, stories, and
tips about the produce.
Our selection features seasonal open field vegetables, but due to the high demand
for salad vegetables, we endeavor to include tomatoes and cucumbers throughout
the year, and sometimes acquire some fruits and vegetables from fellow organic
farmers. The newsletters specify what produce is "home-grown" and what
was brought from another farmer.
We offer two box sizes:
Small box – 80 NIS per week – suitable for one to two persons,
or those who do little cooking.
Large box – 105 NIS per week – suitable for 4 persons, or
those who cook most of their meals at home.
How and when is the box delivered?
There are 3 options: home delivery, individual collection from a neighborhood pick-up point, or pick-up directly from the farm. Deliveries to Gush Dan are on Mondays, and to the Jerusalem area on Wednesdays, between 15:00-22:00
What is the cost of delivery?
Home delivery: 20 NIS per week
Pick-up point: 5 NIS per week
We deliver in cardboard boxes, which you are asked to return empty and clean
the following week.
May I choose the contents of my box each week?
Yes…and no. We do not offer a standard delivery service, but a subscription on a farm. Every week you receive a large variety of vegetables, according to the questionnaire you submit, but not by personal order. Of course we want you to be happy and stay with us, so we have no intention of drowning you in turnips or Swiss chard. Meaning – we grow a wide variety of vegetables and fill the boxes adequately. Part of the fun are the surprises waiting for you in the box every week, and the pleasure of preparing and eating veggies you usually wouldn't buy if they’re unfamiliar or hard to find. To get an impression of what we grow, take a look at our harvest schedule. At the end of the season we ask you to fill out a satisfaction questionnaire to help us plan the crops to be planted for next year.
Still… what if I really don't want something?
Talk to us.
What if there is too much or too little produce in my weekly share to suit my needs?
A vegetarian family, large households, or co-ops may want to buy two or more shares. On the other hand, if you're interested in getting a CSA share but afraid there may be more food than you can use in a week, you can subscribe for an every-other-week share.
Will there be fruits in my box?
We grow only annuals, and have no trees or bushes. During the summer we grow special melons and watermelons, and we are hoping for strawberries next winter. Sometimes we add fruits from another farm. In the future we would like to join forces with an organic fruit grower and add a fruit share.
Are you certified organic?
Yes. The farm is inspected and certified by "Agrior," the Israeli inspection and certification body. Agrior is IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) accredited. Additional information about Agrior and organic agriculture in Israel can be found on the Israel Bio-Organic Agriculture Association website at: http://www.organic-israel.org.il
What about Kashrut?
We have a Kashrut certification from Rabbi Benizri, rabbi of the Gezzer Regional Council. At his instruction, we plant to avoid Kilaim in the field, and Trumot U'Measrot are taken each week from our harvest.
What are the payment options?
Cash, check,or credit card.
Can I try it out for a short period of time to see if I like it?
Yes! Those who wish to do so may select our '4-week trial' plan.
How do I sign up?
Welcome! Please fill up the attached form
