Farm Produce at BU Available to Fenway-Kenmore Residents

By: Laura Herrera

Looking to get a little more local produce into your diet? Ward's Berry Farm, of Sharon, MA, brings a weekly shipment of fruits and veggies into the Kenmore Square area each week in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program through Boston University. 

But although the program is administered by the school, produce is available to any community member, not only those that are BU-affiliated.

"It's not just for the BU community, it's for everyone," said Caroline Trainor, special project manager for BU Dining Services.  "The more we can support the farms, the more support there is for all of us."

In fact, the BU and Ward's Farm CSA is looking to gain more buyers from Kenmore Square and Fenway area. The program runs from June 13 to Oct. 31, but during the summer months, more students are away from campus.

Boxes change every week depending on what produce is in season, but a large draw to the program for buyers is that berries are always included in their weekly package. 

"I think it's the best price...it's obviously convenient and they give us berries every week," BU Professor of Political Science Taylor Boas said. "Not all [CSAs] will do that."

Before buying a farmer's choice box from Ward's Berry Farm, Antonio Ochoa had never heard of kale.

But since Ochoa, a part-time Spanish professor at Boston University, started buying weekly boxes through the BU Dining Services and Ward's Farm program four years ago, he's been pleasantly "surprised" with kale, Concord grapes and a variety of squashes. 

"I had no idea what they were before I tried them from this farm," Ochoa said. 

A farmer's choice box is $24 and orders can be placed for a whole 20 week season, a late season share (Sept. 5 to Oct. 31), or week by week. Pick ups are every Thursday from 11:30 a.m until 3:30 p.m. in front of the George Sherman Union Plaza at BU.

Since its creation four years go, Mahn said the program has taken off.

"Lots of people like the idea of getting local produce, but in Boston, in the city, it's kind of hard," he said. 

For more information on the BU and Ward's Berry Farm CSA visit www.wardsberryfarm.com/BU