Their mission is naturally simple. “To promote and preserve local sustainable community scale agriculture by providing a venue for local producers to market food, products and services, and to provide year-round access to local products for consumers.”

How does the program currently operate? Utilizing the same successful approach as many Community Supported Agriculture programs (CSA) across the country, the Motherlode Harvest Cooperative (MLH) uses the subscription model in selling fresh, locally produced agricultural products.

The subscribers are local consumers who purchase a weekly box of the freshest seasonal fruits and vegetables. Subscribers must sign up for a four-week commitment and pay for the four weeks in advance. This method has proven successful and efficient in allowing producers to provide quality, local products to consumers who desire to have access to healthy foods and simultaneously directly support local growers. To help consumers achieve maximum value from their produce box, a newsletter in included with each box and contains a list of their boxes contents along with recipes and suggestions for preserving their vegetables for future use as well as MLH information updates. Add-on products are also made available not only to box subscribers but also to any other local consumer through a central MLH email list as well as the extended networks of participating producers. The producer decides on the price that they need for their product and MLH adds 20% to cover operating costs. Add-on products include beef, eggs, goat meat, candles, body care products, baked goods, etc. Meat must be processed at a USDA approved facility and baked goods must be prepared in a licensed commercial kitchen. By participating in the program you are supporting local community scale agriculturalists who steward our open spaces in a sustainable manner.

This cooperative is unique to the MotherLode and to Amador County, and Jackson in particular. There are only a handful of producer/consumer coops in the country and even fewer multi-farm CSAs of which MotherLode Harvest is both. Here's your chance to participate in a groundbreaking new organization, unique to the small farms, valleys and mountains of the MotherLode.

How to Participate:

Contact Sean Kriletich at skriletich@ucdavis.edu or (209) 223-6837 to learn more about how to participate. You can also visit www.farmsofamador.com to find out more.

Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. to Noon Tuesdays 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

This coop is owned by local producers and consumers who produce in and around Jackson, California.

Supporting this cooperative helps preserve open space and supports sustainable community scale agriculture in the MotherLode region of Amador County.

Pets are welcome.