Vertigo Coffee Roasters in San Juan Bautista has teamed up with Farm House Foods in Hollister to bring an additional multi-farm Community Supported Agricultural Program (CSA) drop-off center to San Benito County. Started by Becky Herbert, owner of Farm House Café, in an effort to provide a service that includes local high quality, organic food, Vertigo Coffee Roasters agreed to make their store a drop-off location in San Juan Bautista. Kitty Fridman, part owner of Vertigo Coffee Roasters, shared that though they initially were talking to Herbert about a CSA Farmers Market, conversation also led to the creation of a CSA drop-off center. This CSA, called “Eating with the Seasons”, is subscription based with weekly food deliveries. Customers go online and select their grocery purchases for the week through the Eating with the Seasons website. For CSA members buying through this subscription the day to pick up their groceries in San Juan Bautista is Monday. As found on the Farm House Foods website, “We work with a network of local, organic farmers and producers who are dedicated to delivering only the highest quality food possible to our members”. Two farms in San Juan Bautista that provide produce for this service are Coke Farms and Phil Foster Ranches.
When discussing why Vertigo Coffee Roasters would team up with this service Fridman shared, “It enhances the agriculture here, brings people together, and educates people on what you eat”. Ryan Morris, who is both the manager and a roaster of Vertigo Coffee Roasters, is a CSA Eating with the Seasons customer. Morris shared that he joined this service due to the ease of being able to get his groceries at this location, as well as his desire to support local farmers who San Benito County residents are “lucky” to have around them. The CSA is “providing access for great quality food,” that is local and organic according to Morris. Customers of this service have access to produce, meats, dairy, eggs, honey, coffee, and more.
Fridman and Morris also shared the importance of the CSA as it promotes local farmers, gives people access to healthier food options, and keeps money within the community. These statements support the vision of Herbert and the CSA as found on Farm House Foods website where it shares that all food is, “organic, sustainable, Fair Trade, and humanely-produced food. Subsequently, members have access to a wide array of locally-produced goods that support a healthy, high-nutritional diet in a convenient way”.
Other local drop-off locations for this service, according to the Farm House Café website, include four drop-off locations in Hollister and one drop-off location in Aromas.
You must be logged in to post a comment.