Community agriculture
New era of farming in Potter County

Maxine Harrison checks out a typical basket of locally grown crops and other products available through Community Supported Agriculture. She’s shown with Joe Bailey, one of Potter County’s CSA leaders.

Potter County was once the king of potato farming in the Northeast, as well as one of Pennsylvania’s top milk producers.

Gradually, agriculture faded in the region, as more farms were sold for real estate development and younger generations opted out. In recent years, several Amish families have purchased property in the Ulysses area, where they work the land and supplement their income with woodworking and construction contracting.

But not all of Potter County’s native farmers have cashed out. In this era of fast-food restaurants and corporate farms, some of them are working to revitalize the local agriculture industry with a modern marketing approach. A cornerstone of their evolving plan is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).

Promoting ‘slow food’

“We represent sort of the opposite of the ‘fast food’ that’s

being marketed so heavily,” explained Bailey, whose family’s agricultural roots run deep in Potter County. “I guess we’re more along the lines of ‘slow food’.”

With CSA, growers decide what to plant and consumers sign agreements to purchase the crops. In many CSA programs, consumers can assist with labor -- everything from pulling weeds to keeping books -- in return for lower-priced food.

The Potter County program easily met its goal of a dozen buyers this year and prospects are bright for 2007 and beyond. Products delivered regularly for the dozen buyers this year included fresh vegetables, canned goods, eggs, baked goods, flowers and herbs. Ten local growers, with 16 product lines, signed up as suppliers.

Bailey and Mitch DeLong of Shinglehouse are spearheading the CSA, in conjunction with Penn State Cooperative Extension Service and the Potter County Education Council.

They expanded this year’s Potter County Farmers Market. A broader selection of homemade products were marketed on weekends at the courthouse square in Coudersport, and at new locations in Galeton and Genesee.

Several of the Amish families participated , featuring goods more traditionally associated with southeastern Pennsylvania.

Community kitchen

A related project on the drawing board for this agricultural renaissance is the Commercial Incubator Kitchen.

Local producers will be able to market “valued-added’ food items, such as jams and jellies, maple syrup, cherry butter, herb mixes, baked goods and homemade soap. Sellers must meet state regulations for packaging, labeling, quality testing, safety, content and processing.

CSA leaders are also looking into opportunities for national and even international marketing. They plan to tie in their efforts with the Lumber Heritage Region and Pennsylvania Wilds tourist promotions to market locally produced merchandise, such as woodcrafts.

Among other possible projects: corn mazes, an herb farm tour, pick-your own farms, dairy farm tours, demonstration gardens and pilot projects for green energy production.

The CSA concept is growing across the nation, and Bailey sees Potter County as an excellent location for a locally tailored program.

“The farmers and buyers become partners, which guarantees the farmer financial support,” Bailey said. “This can enable the smaller and moderate-sized organic family farms to remain in business, while members receive wholesome foods harvested at the peak of their ripeness, flavor, and vitamin and mineral content.”