Farm Share

In short, a Farm Share (or CSA) is a program that directly links the consumer to local foods and the farms that produce it. The consumer invests in a share before the growing season which helps the farmers offset the costs of running the farm (including but not limited to seeds, fertilizer, labor, equipment and insurances - most of which are incurred during the spring planting season). Farmers earn important early-season capital and have a guaranteed market for their produce - as a result, share members get the best of the best that a farm has to offer!

It’s true - each Farm Share program works differently - at Bishop’s we keep it simple. Sign up to purchase a “share” of the upcoming season’s harvest and then pick up your weekly bounty of fruits and vegetables from Farm Market for 18-weeks. We provide in person service at pick up along with a lively community only Facebook group and valuable weekly email full of recipes, seasonal updates, and stories from the farm.

This varies by size of share, seasonally, weekly - and by year - but we do our best to always provide a wide variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables in each share. Early in the season you’ll see things like peas, strawberries and tender greens, peak-summer you’ll see peaches, onions, tomatoes, and sweet corn, late season you’ll get fall apples, pears, squash, and fresh-pressed cider. Each week there’s a whole new freshly picked basket to discover!

Our program is 18 weeks from early June through October. The exact start date is dependent on the weather and development of the crops year by year. You will be notified in advance by email when we will begin.

Pick up Location: Under the tent in the parking lot at Bishop’s Farm Market (1355 Boston Post Rd, Guilford, CT). Tent is located close to our Little Red Barn entertainment area. We offer 3 pick up times each week; Tuesdays 11:30-2:30, Tuesdays 5:00-7:00, or Thursdays 3:00-7:00. When making your Farm Share purchase, you will be asked to pick a day, and keep that day. BUT, we realize life happens, and we are flexible to move a day or time when needed, just let us know via email (csa@bishopsorchards.com).

Notes:
- While we can provide bins for produce transport, we do appreciate you bringing a box or a few large reusable bags when picking up your share.
- Anyone can pick up a share for the share owner, just provide the owner’s name
- If you miss your pick up, please email csa@bishopsorchards.com to arrange an alternate pick up time
- If a share isn’t picked up we donate it to the local soup kitchen.

Shareholders provide consistent support to the farm, and the farmers do their best to provide a plentiful, consistent, and varied supply of farm fresh products. Rarely there is a confluence of factors that really puts a hole in the flow of produce. Our program’s size and diversity work to minimize these risks, but they can and do exist.

Bishop’s CSA Member Agreement for 2026
Bishop’s Farm Market, 1355 Boston Post Rd. Guilford, CT06437-2399
(203)453-2338   fax (203)458-7125   www.bishopsorchards.com   csa@bishopsorchards.com

Section 1.  Introducing Bishop’s CSA Farm
A.  Becoming a Part of Bishop’s
Families and households sign up to purchase a “share” of the upcoming season’s harvest. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a relationship between our farm and you as our customer. Rather than simply purchasing food, our customers become “members” of this CSA farm who receive a portion of the farm’s harvest.

The commitment in advance partners with us on the costs of running the CSA, including seeds, fertilizer, labor, equipment and insurances, most of which are incurred during the spring planting season.

Our CSA runs for 18 weeks, from June to October.  Members are responsible for showing up at the farm each week to pick up your share.  Detailed information regarding pick-up is discussed below in Section 3. Variety and quantity may vary as described below in Section 2.

B.  Our Growing Practices

We are proud of the significant efforts we employ to minimize our environmental footprint while balancing the need to be economically viable. We have achieved this using a sound, structured IPM program. IPM is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the lifecycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.

C.  The Products We Expect to Harvest

Throughout the 18 week period, you will receive a number of fresh products from the farm.  During the growing period, you may receive more quantity of some things as the harvest continues to thrive into the summer months where you will then find more of an assortment each week in your basket. In June, we will have fresh strawberries, lettuce and greens. July will bring out fresh picked green beans, beets, sweet corn, squash, blueberries and cucumbers, followed by tomatoes, peaches, pears, raspberries, apples, winter squash  and more.  Of course weather, pests, and other events will affect actual production and what is available each week.  Please note that we produce some items exclusively for our CSA and others that you may not receive in your CSA share.

Section 2.  Our Shared Commitments
A.  Sharing in the Risk of Crop Failure

We promise to do our best to provide you with a bountiful share each week.  The quantity of produce, however, may vary from week-to-week due to extreme weather, insects, or other production factors despite our best efforts.  By joining our CSA, you are agreeing to share the risk of crop failure with us and other members. In the unlikely event of a crop failure, our procedure is as follows:

If only a small portion of crops fail, we compensate for the failed crops by filling your share with other crops grown on the farm that are ready for harvest at that time. We may cover for a crop loss by cooperating with other local farmers.  This may not be a feasible option for all crops because of cost or widespread failure.
We expect to deliver you the full value of your share, and in the 6 years we have operated our CSA we have always done so.

B.  Sharing in the Reward of Crop Surplus

In addition to our CSA, our farm sells most of our crops via our Farm Market or PYO. We balance priority of the CSA with our other markets. This allows us to select a consistently full and diverse share to our customers while avoiding over-delivering any one product. Some weeks we have ‘extras’ of certain items that you can partake of as indicated that day at no extra charge.  We also operate a ‘swap’ table, where you can take or leave items between other members so nothing goes to waste.

Section 3.  Picking Up Shares

You are responsible for picking up your share on time each week on your selected day and time.  You are responsible for observing our simple, common sense rules, which are as follows:
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1. Return last week’s box every week, or bring your own bags and leave the box at the site.
2. Pick up your share within the timeframe stated. We start with high-quality produce, and the effects of temperature and weather may cause it to decline if not picked up in time.
3. Be respectful of our property, your fellow members, parking lot courtesy and safety.
4. When extras are available, be considerate and take only what you can use and hopefully have some left for members making later pickups.

If you cannot pick-up your share, you must arrange for someone else to pick it up for you on time.  Call Brad at 203-627-6587 or email him at csa@bishopsorchards.com to make alternate arrangements.  Shares that are not picked up within the pick-up time will be donated to New Haven Farms or alternate charity.
We take the safety of your food seriously. For your added protection, wash all produce before eating and keep products properly refrigerated or frozen as soon as possible.

Section 4.  Member Fees

By selling membership in advance of the growing season, CSA reduces the burden of up-front costs for the farmer. Your membership fees provide us with money to purchase seed and equipment before the season starts, and we appreciate your commitment.
Full payment is required in advance to secure a share. Payment and sign-up is online only, with Payments made using debit or credit cards (MasterCard, Visa and Discover) or ACH transfer with Dwolla. A limited quantity of shares is available on a first come first serve basis. Once you are a Bishop’s Farm Share member, you will have the first opportunity to purchase shares each year. Bishop’s Farm Share is here to serve the community, and encourages you to share it’s bounty with friends, family, and neighbors. However, ownership of your shares can not be transferred or sold to a 3rd party. All payments and Shares are non refundable.

Base Share Types:
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Full Share (18 Weeks) – $700
A FULL SHARE is suitable for most everyone, including a couple, unless you eat out or are not at home many days of the week. You can split a full share with a friend or family and alternate pickups.
Medium (2/3) Share (18 Weeks) – $500
As stated, 2/3 of the amount in a Full Share,  a good fit for 2-3 people or those who eat fewer meals at home.

The 18 week season runs from June-October and includes a wide variety of produce, both fruits and vegetables from early season strawberries and spinach to mid-season peaches, peppers, and corn through autumn apples and pumpkins. All of the produce comes from Bishop’s and from our partner farm Fair Weather Acres in Cromwell, CT, with an occasional addition from other surrounding farms.

Food shares are non-taxable. Optional Add-On Shares must include a Base Share purchase.

Section 5.  Communicating with Us
The best way to communicate with us is to reach Brad at 203-627-6587 or email him at csa@bishopsorchards.com.  Alternatively, call our office at 203-453-2338 and identify yourself as a CSA member and  your needs. We will do our best to respond as soon as possible, but please understand that our CSA staff spends most of our time in the field growing your food and not at our desk. Please login to your account via our CSA web page at csa.bishopsorchards.com top update postal or email address, request changes or express joy or dissatisfaction.

We will communicate with you by email. When you sign up, you will be added to our distribution list. Please read your email from us. We depend on being able to communicate important information such as share contents, changes due to weather, discounts to CSA members at the Farm Market or PYO and inform you about farm events. Every week, we will email an update giving you information about the crops available that week, recipe ideas, or other farm related news.

By checking the box and paying, I agree to purchase the membership share I have chosen and abide by the terms of this agreement.  I understand that, although unlikely, Bishop’s may change parts of this agreement related to production and distribution from time to time. I understand that they will contact me via email in advance of any changes to this agreement.