This year we will be going into our 5th season with our Community Supported Agriculture program.  There are many, many changes in store for the farm this year (more on that later) but our CSA program will continue mostly business-as-usual.  We are hoping to add many more unique items this year for your culinary experimentation along with all the staples you’ve come to love!

If you haven’t reserved your spot to receive 24 weeks of wonderful organically grown veggies, now’s the time!  Just $50 reserves your spot for the season.  If you’re not sure what a CSA is all about, visit our CSA page then visit our Program page for more details about how ours works..  If you’re ready to sign up, download the registration form, send it in or email it and put down your deposit.  All final payments are due no later than March 1st.

As always, if you have any questions about the program, deliveries, etc. don’t hesitate to contact us!

Here’s looking forward to spring!

~Karin

FOOD SAFETY ALERT***
January 5, 2012

After Inspection, Department of Agriculture Halts Meat Processing at Lafayette County Business

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – The Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Meat and Poultry Inspection Program has temporarily halted all cooked-meat processing for retail and wholesale at Kleoppel Meats d.b.a Alma Meats in Alma, Mo. due to violations identified during an inspection today, Jan. 4, 2012. Members of the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Meat and Poultry Inspection Program uncovered records indicating that the business operated by Terry Kleoppel sold meat to consumers that had been improperly handled and was not inspected.  The Missouri Department of Agriculture is coordinating with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and local health officials on this matter.

As a result, the Lafayette County meat processor is recalling approximately 320 pounds of meat, including summer sausage, snack sticks, beef jerky and roast pork.

Recalled items include:
“Snack Sticks Pepper Jack Cheese & Jalapeno”- 18.14 pounds
Lot # 2091311 / Produced 11/15/2011
“Snack Sticks Pepper Jack Cheese” – 18.76 pounds
Lot #’s 2091311 and 2002311 / Produced 11/15/2011 and 11/16/2011
“Snack Sticks” -25.97 pounds
Lot # 2002311 / Produced 11/16/2011
“Summer Sausage” – 40.27 pounds
Lot # 2081311 / Produced 11/14/2011
“Summer Sausage Pepper Jack Cheese” – 21.62 pounds
Lot # 2081311 / Produced 11/14/2011
“Summer Sausage Pepper Jack Cheese & Jalapenos” – 25.14 pounds
Lot # 2081311 / Produced 11/14/2011
“Spicy Beef Jerky Ground and Formed “
Lot # 2162311 / Produced 11/21/2011 and 11/22/2011
“Bold Beef Jerky Ground and Formed”
Lot # 2152311 / Produced 11/21/2011 and 11/22/2011
“Honey Beef Jerky Ground and Formed”
Lot # 2152311 / Produced 11/21/2011 and 11/22/2011
“Roasted Whole Hog Meat” – 70.74 pounds
Lot # 1008211 / Produced 11/23/2011

Records also indicate that some of the products above, prepared between Nov. 14, 2011 and Nov. 23, 2011, were sold to Trinity Lutheran School in Alma.

As a result of the violations identified Jan. 4, the business’ inspection status for cooked meat products has been temporarily suspended, meaning that meat cannot be processed for retail sale.  The investigation by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is ongoing.

Individuals who have conducted business with Alma Meats as well as those who purchased Alma Farm Fresh Meats-labeled products should carefully examine all items processed by the facility.  Individuals who purchased products prepared between Nov. 14 and Nov. 23, 2011 should return any unused portion to the business at 100 North County Road in Alma.

Anyone concerned about an illness should contact their health care provider.

For more information regarding the Missouri Department of Agriculture, visit http://mda.mo.gov.

I try to repurpose and recycle as often as I can.  I try to produce as much waste in this house and on this farm as possible.  I know I can do more but there always seems to be a reason why I don’t … not enough time, not enough support (trying to get my boys to help is like pulling teeth), any myriad of excuses.

After reading the story of this couple, however, I KNOW I can do more.  No more excuses.  But it will take a lot of effort.

The curious stares begin in the parking lot for Zach Noland and Meghan Sundermeier. Plenty of after-work shoppers head into Whole Foods at 91st Street and Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park with reusable sacks draped on their arms; it’s part of the health-food-store uniform. But nobody else needs a double-decker shopping cart to transport the containers they are taking into the store. One by one, Noland and Sundermeier place glass-lidded  jars, cotton bags, canvas totes and a chrome compost pail (there’s a collection barrel in the store) into the cart and rattle it across the asphalt.

Inside the store, more inquisitive glances as Sundermeier holds a cotton sack up to catch a stream of lentils from the mouth of the bulk dispenser. From her purse, the waifish communications specialist for Kansas City Public Schools extracts a paper-wrapped twist tie she has saved from previous visits.
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