CSUC Organic Vegetable Project
The Organic Vegetable Project (OVP) started out small in 2008 with just one acre of the available 10-acre certified organic plot. Currently three acres are in production, growing over 50 varieties of vegetables to supply the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership. CSA members pay a monthly membership in exchange for a box of produce each week April through December. Extra produce is supplied to the Wildcat Food Pantry on campus for students in need.
The collaboration brings together students, faculty, local farmers, and other community members who intend to cultivate within the model of small scale organic vegetable production, support the local food movement and promote the wise use of resources. Its goals are to support local farmers with information, the community with educational workshops, students with valuable management and research skills, and the university campus with fresh produce.
A research objective of the project is to grow, evaluate, and identify the most promising new vegetable varieties in an effort to provide local organic growers with information to help them become more competitive. Community outreach is another goal of the project. The project was initiated through funding from the Earl Foor Foundation, the CSU, Chico Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD), the AS Sustainability Fund, and the CSU Agricultural Research Initiative (ARI). Learn more about the Organic Vegetable Project.(opens in new window)