The Washington State University Eggert Family Organic Farm officially opened for the summer season the last Friday of May. The organic farm is located east of WSU, on Animal Sciences Road, just off Highway 8.
The harvest season is 24 weeks, starting in mid-May and ending after October. The produce is sold right in the middle of the property so customers can witness crops growing in the fields and green houses. The organic food can be bought every Friday, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Eggert Family Organic Farm is a part of WSU”s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences within their scientific community. According to the Pacific Northwest Inlander, the Palouse region is noteworthy nationwide for deep soils that grows exceptional crops.
Catherine Keenan | Argonaut
Plants grow at the Washington State University Eggert Family Organic Farm in Pullman. The farm, located just off Highway 8, officially opened for the summer sales of organic produce May 24.
“I came from Chicago just to get into this organic-agriculture program,” said Nader Shihadeh, a summer intern at Eggert Family Organic Farm. “It”s great to be a part of this new system of getting organically-certified, (and) being active and part of this community.”
Customers have been a part of the local organic community is through a partnership called Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Aaron Applebee, another employee, stated that any customer who is a CSA member receives a weekly share return not in money, but in an exchange of organic produce in a box.
As the season changes, shareholders will receive different types of produce depending on the period a specific crop is harvested. The CSA program will be open for more shareholders during the 2017 spring harvest.
“Since I started, the demand and market in our area has grown dramatically,” said Bradley Jaeckel, the organic farm manager. “There are many more growers, more restaurants buying and more CSA (members) in the area. I think there is a healthy demand for organic food.”
University of Idaho and WSU”s agricultural departments have been considered one of the best programs for students in the nation by Blue Sky Virtual Newsletter. An organic club is available for both university students that come together talking about organic food and growing crops themselves.
“What got me here is the like-minded people,” Shihadeh said. “People that don”ºt like certain things the way their food is produced, and I respect that. A niche passion.”
He also said that tomatoes will be ripe for customers to enjoy in the near future.
Catherine Keenan
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