DLM Shoppers Pleased With New CSA

ROSEANNE HARPER

DAYTON, Ohio — Dorothy Lane Market's customers have given high marks to the retailer's partnership with a Community Supported Agriculture group, DLM officials told SN.

In fact, the Dorothy Lane/Farm 2 Fork Fresh CSA initiative link-up is still going strong right into fall, they said.

The upscale retailer's arrangement with the Farm 2 Fork Fresh CSA group — which was founded and launched in the spring by local resident and retail veteran Howard Solganik — gives its customers and other consumers easy access to locally grown products.

“It has definitely been a good service for our customers, and we've received very positive comments from them,” said Jose Manzano, Dorothy Lane's director of produce.

“They comment on the high quality.”

Each Thursday, those who signed up to join the CSA group pick up a box of fresh produce — much of which was harvested that same morning — at their choice of Dorothy Lane's three stores.

Having Dorothy Lane Market as the drop-off point benefits all concerned in the project. As customers pick up their CSA produce boxes, they're apt to do some additional shopping in the store, Manzano said.

Solganik, who manages the distribution of the CSA's products, told SN earlier this month that everything is going well, and that he and Farm 2 Fork Fresh farmer members are right now planning next year's crops.

“We have more people [growers], too, wanting to get in for next year,” Solganik said.

He, like Manzano, said consumer members have expressed their appreciation for the CSA and its link-up with Dorothy Lane Market.

“Dorothy Lane customers who signed up for the first six weeks have signed up for each six-week period since then, and we've added new members. We have more signing up for this current period.”

While Solganik conceded there were “some bumps in the first week or two,” as there might be in any start-up business, but they were worked out.

Unusually cool and wet weather this summer damaged some crops, but others did well, and so the boxes CSA members picked up at DLM each Thursday held a good variety of produce, Manzano and Solganik agreed.

One of the grower members in the CSA, Glenn Stevens Shourds, co-owner of Mulberry Creek Farm, said major rains early in the summer absolutely devastated some of his early plantings. Indeed, his first plantings of cabbage and broccoli were wiped out, and green beans suffered, he said.

But he has provided other produce.

“We've even been able to provide a decent tomato. One of the great things, though, about a multi-farm CSA is that others can fill in to provide a nice variety,” Stevens Shourds said.

Solganik described some of the items members got over the summer.

“We had half-runners [green beans] that were fabulous, lots of great plums, sweet onions, corn and tomatoes and eggplant. We had some white eggplants as well as regular ones.”

The CSA's produce box/baskets that were distributed the first week of this month were especially appealing, Solganik said.

“Two kinds of raspberries, red and yellow varieties, corn, tomatoes and huge bell peppers. Habanero peppers, too.”

Looking ahead, both Solganik and Manzano said they see the partnership continuing successfully.

“Interest in locally grown products has picked up so much. This is good,” Manzano said.

While partnering with a CSA group to provide its customers with locally grown products is a first for Dorothy Lane Market, providing in-season local products is not new.

Indeed, offering locally grown products and supporting local agriculture has been a Dorothy Lane hallmark for decades.