Farmers are producers that work behind the curtains. People buy their vegetables from the store but rarely do consumers know who harvested their vegetables. One Pontiac farmer said she wants to bridge that gap.

Gema Villavicencio and husband Marc, owners of Pure Conscience, an 80-acre farm in Bristol, are now offering Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) baskets, certified organically grown produce.

“I really love the idea of having people connect directly to the farm, connect directly to . . .

us and connect directly to where their vegetables are growing,” she said.

Villavicencio is offering a weekly (16 weeks for $640) or bi-weekly (8 weeks for $320) option for the baskets. The portions are good for about one to two people. Anyone picking up the baskets from her farm can also receive a 10 per cent discount on extra purchases at the farm, such as their grass-fed yak meat, organic eggs, natural products, organic chicken or for buying more vegetables.

Villavicencio, pointed out that growing their food organically was an important choice for them. “We went organic because it is much tastier, it is healthier, it’s more of an investment long term in our health,” she said.

The idea of the CSA baskets started off when La Boite à Grains approached the couple last summer to provide their products at their supermarket and from there Villavicencio decided to take to Facebook and ask people in her community if they would be interested.

To her surprise, many people were delighted with the idea and that’s when she decided to offer the CSA baskets from her farm directly. “When you come in here to the farm you’re dealing directly with us and you know exactly where those vegetables are growing. There is a much better connection with people and what they’re eating.”

The baskets will be offered from June 17 till September 30.

When arriving at the farm, visitors are offered a shopping experience even though their orders are prepaid. They can fill up their baskets to $40 worth of fresh produce, explained Villavicencio.

The fruit and vegetable list includes, but is not limited to, tomatoes, watermelon, raspberries, melons, sweet potatoes, garlic, non-GMO sweet corn, radishes, summer squash, hot peppers. The CSA baskets are limited to 30 people this year. But Villavicencio pointed out that if people do not want to commit to the season they can stop by on harvest days (every Friday starting June 17) and pick up vegetables and fruits to try it out.

Before starting the CSA, Villavicencio said they would go to markets and other places and sometimes not sell all the vegetables, which meant they faced some financial losses. But with the CSA, there is more of a guarantee that when they produce someone will buy it. “It’s totally a win-win situation where we produce, people eat healthy and come out to the farm to learn about how their food is growing.”

Villavicencio noted they have big plans for the business when the summer rolls around but nothing is set in stone yet. For now, they are hoping to have a great harvest and invite locals to their farm for a unique shopping experience.

This year community members can pick up their baskets between the hours of 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. For the full list of vegetables visit her website at https://www.localline.ca/pure-conscience.

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