Pinckney’s Produce
Pinckney’s Produce was a Community Supported Agriculture program Rest Park Farm ran in Beaufort, SC. It was founded by Pinckney Thompson and his father, Jody in 2009 at Thompson Farms and moved to Rest Park Farm in 2011.
Rest Park Farm, owned by 5th-generation farmer Urbie West and his son Ashby, provided over 100 years of experience in growing fresh, quality produce while promoting local and seasonal eating and responsible stewardship of the land.
The program closed in 2017 but positively impacted dozens of families in the area.
Farming Techniques
The farmers took great care in using safe farming practices for the land surrounding their homes. They selected crops with natural disease resistance that can thrive in their SC climate. They avoided herbicides for weed control and used mechanical cultivation or plastic mulch to sustain their crops.
To manage disease and pests, the farmers monitored their crops daily and used an integrated system that sustained beneficial insects to control harmful ones. They used conventional pesticides and fungicides only when necessary, and selected those least harmful to the environment and humans.
After harvest, the farmers implemented a quality control program by storing their vegetables in large coolers to slow the natural change in the plants. They washed vegetables in a 1% hypochlorite solution, dried them, and delivered them to their drop sites in refrigerated vans.
The farmers combined many organic principles with sound management practices to ensure the safety and quality of their produce, which they believed was affordable and healthy for their families. Although their methods did not qualify as “organic,” they were all natural.
What’s a CSA?
A CSA is a program where community members pre-pay for a share of the season’s harvest and receive weekly boxes of fresh produce. By signing up, you commit to being a customer for the entire season, which helps sustain the farm.
There are usually two seasons: Spring/Summer (April to June) and Fall (September to December), with full 12-week and 4-week shares available.
There is often a delivery charge for areas far away from the farm, but no charge for pick-ups on the farm or delivery close by.