2010 FMP MEMBERSHIP OPEN TO THOSE ON WAITING LIST 

Please respond by 3/20/10 to reserve your

 2010 membership pickup day - thank you!!

THIS IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY -  CURRENTLY OUR

PROGRAM IS FULL BUT PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR UPDATES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT!

Summary of 2010 FMP program:

-                     one (1) sized basket (average 12 pounds per week) with 6–10 items each week

-                     the season will run from May 17^th to August 16^th (14 weeks)

-                     pick up days will be Tuesday (limit 50), Wednesday (limit 50), Thursday (limit 50) and Friday (limit 35)

Details of the 2010 Family Plan Membership:

-                     Cullipher Farm Market (CFM) agrees to provide one half bushel basket full each week. We will initially provide the basket and the basket will be returned each week at pickup.

-                     Pickup will be Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 am until close of normal business hours at Cullipher Farm Market located at 1444 Princess Anne Road.

-                     Each basket will consist of 6 to 10 items The items will vary week to week depending on our harvest schedule. We strive to maintain post harvest quality for all of your fruits and vegetables, whether it be through cooling, maintaining a minimum temperature, or humidity control. However, to accommodate the number of Family Plan members arriving within a compressed time, it is necessary to prepare your baskets 2 to 3 hours in advance. With the summer heat in Virginia, it is extremely difficult to maintain freshness and quality. Prompt pickup will help maintain the desired quality.

-                     The items for each week will be posted the Tuesday of that week on our website.

-                     In addition to our Family Plan offering, Cullipher Farm Market offers a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, plants, herbs, jams/preserves and cut flowers.

-                     Every effort will be made to provide a wide selection of fresh fruits and vegetables each week. The production of perishables is strongly influenced by the weather and pests. However, we promise to meet or exceed your expectations.

-                     As with all produce purchased through Cullipher Farm Market, our Family Plan items are covered by our 100% guarantee. We will replace or refund any items deemed unsatisfactory.

-                     The baskets will vary in weight each week. This variation is because of the fresh vegetables and fruits we are able to grow here in Virginia Beach. It is likely that the weight of the items will vary slightly throughout the growing season. At the beginning of the season we will have more lettuces, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, beets, peas, leafy greens, cabbage and onions. Among the next crops to come in are summer squash, cucumbers, potatoes, spinach and beans, The midsummer group of fruits and vegetables include our vine ripe tomatoes, sweet corn, cantaloupes, sprite melons, watermelons, peppers and eggplants. Remember that tomatoes and sweet corn don’t usually mature until the last of June so they won’t be featured in our basket at the beginning. The early season basket will weigh less than later in the summer because the lettuces, salad mixes, broccoli and other early crops are bulky, but don’t have a lot of weight compared to tomatoes, sweet corn, melons, etc.

-                     In the event we are unable to fulfill our obligations, your money will be gladly refunded on a prorated basis. As we are dealing with perishable crops planted seasonally, we may not harvest some crops we planted or may be prevented from planting because of the weather. Therefore, some of the crops on our list may never make it to your basket despite our best intentions. We will be making daily evaluations and harvesting decisions.

-                     Our Family Plan membership will begin the week of May 17^th, 2010, and end the week of August 16th, 2010. All membership agreements will be for the entire period. If you cannot pick up your basket, please call ahead to make arrangements to pickup your basket the following day. We cannot hold your basket for several days and maintain the freshness. Perhaps a friend can pick it up for you. Any items not picked up will be donated to the Society of St Andrews, a Methodist Network that distributes food to the needy in each community.

-                     Cullipher Farm Market subscribes to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. This means that cover crops, beneficial insects, crop rotations, and soft chemicals are used in our production practices. The stewardship philosophy (physiology) is used to sustain productivity and conserve the resource base. Stewardship of the resources will allow younger family members to continue producing quality produce for many years.

-                     Each week our Family Plan baskets will contain a fresh sheet to give you tips on how to use and store your produce and activities on the farm. We will provide a general list of how to properly store your bounty at home. For instance, strawberries should be washed with caps on and refrigerated and sweet corn should be refrigerated and eaten within 5 days.

-          For a list of items that might be in your basket, check our Crop Calendar.