Winter Apple Shares Now Available!

A New Apple Offering from Alternative Roots Farm

Sign up for one or more of our Winter Apple Shares - whether you are snacking, baking, or stocking the pantry this is a great, tasty deal!

Grab 10 or 20 lbs per share delivery - create your own program. Choose from four different pick up options throughout late October and November; a December date may be added later on.

10lb Share: $22  •  20lb Share: $40 • Larger quantities may be purchased at $2/lb.

Winter Apple Share Order Form

Monday, October 29 - 5:00-7:00 pick up at the farm

Wednesday, November 7 - 4:00-7:00 pick up at the farm (during Fall CSA/Market at the Farm)

Saturday, November 10 - 10:00-12:00 pick up at Mankato Winter Farmers Market (Drummers)

Monday, November 26 - 5:00-7:00 pick up at the farm

A December date may be added later on. 

*Oct. 29 & Nov. 26 Mankato drop offs may be added if enough people sign up from the area.

How to Sign Up

Use the Order Form, or...

Contact us to let us know your:

   •preferred pick up date(s)

   •size of share for your pick up date(s)

Contact via:

   •Email: info@alternativerootsfarm.com

   •Text: Brooke 507-412-7605

   •Facebook messenger

Payment may be sent to Alternative Roots Farm 11197 130th St., Madelia, MN 56062

October Farmers Markets

A big chill is in the air, Halloween decor is popping up in neighborhoods and thoughts of warm oven baking apple crisps and pies are welcoming.

Farmers' Market season is bringing the best of Fall bounty now! It is not over!

October Farmers Markets and Events

New Ulm Farmers Market - Two more weeks! Sat, Oct. 5 & 13  Running through Oktoberfest.

Market at the Farm - Wednesday, October 17 4:00-7:00 right here at the farm!

Mankato Farmers Market - Four more weeks! Saturdays through Oct. 27.

Makers Space Market - Sunday, October 28 from 12:00-5:00  pin  Mankato Makerspace 1700 3rd Ave.


You can also find our apples every day at Valley Veggies, of Hwy 68, and weekends at Pumpkin Junction at Blue Skye Farms!

Fall CSA Shares and Winter Apple Shares

Two more Fall CSA Shares are available - October 17 and November 7.  See full details.

Coming soon - all new Winter Apple Shares!

Coming soon - Applesauce Shares and Apple Butter Shares!

Apple Season Updates!

Apple Season Updates Orchard Update September 26 -  Now available Zestar!, Honeycrisp, Sweet Sixteen, Cortland, McIntosh, Fireside/Connell Red, Haralson. Coming soon - Honeygold, Regent.

Also coming soon, sign up for our first Winter Apple Shares - one delivery of 10lbs or 20lbs of apples in October, November and/or December!

Contact us at info@alternativerootsfarm.com - Sign up for our newsletter for updates!

Where to get A.R.F. Apples:  
New Ulm Farmers' Market (Saturdays)
Mankato Farmers' Market (Tuesdays/Saturdays)
New Ulm Community Market & Co-op
Natural Food Co-op (Litchfield)
Arizona Olive Oil Co. (Mankato)
Pumpkin Junction at Blue Skye Farms
Valley Veggies

Follow regular updates on our Facebook page.

Upcoming Events including A.R.F.:  

Makers Market at the Mankato Makers Space - Sunday, September 30th 12:00-5:00 pm
--live music, Lucky Devils BBQ, bloody mary bar, vendors and more!
Pumpkin Junction at Blue Skye Farms - Saturdays/Sundays Sept. 29 - October 21
--bring the family out for some fun, pick a pumpkin, grab some ARF apples.
Market @ the Farm - Wednesday, October 17 - 4:00-7:00 pm
--Shop all available products right out at the farm! Watch for updates
Market @ the Farm - Wednesday, November 7 - 4:00-7:00 pm

--Shop all available products right out at the farm!

How to get our garlic

If you have ever had our garlic you know it is top notch - it certainly blows the grocery store garlic out of the water. Grab a tissue...I don't want to make you sad, but...we are sold out for the season.

It was a teeeerrrrrrrible year for garlic growers all over the state. The long cold spring, wet (saturated really) conditions in June did not help. We had a 54% loss on our farm, but we are oh so grateful that loss came in size, not plants (about 3,000 of them). We know two other nearby growers who lost 7,000 and 10,000 plants. So, anywho, hows about that garlic?!

Normally we would have garlic for sale into the winter, but the only way you are going to get our garlic yet this fall/winter is to get in on our Fall CSA program! (Winter/Pantry CSA is sold out at this time.)


We have a limited amount of Fall #2 Hunter's Moon and Fall #3 Snow Moon CSA Shares yet available - holler at us to reserve a share!! info@alternativerootsfarm.com or text Brooke 507-412-7605.

Fall CSA pick up is held at the farm, from 4:00-7:00 pm on the dates listed below. 
Pick up will be market style, bring your own containers. 
Stock up your fridge and pantry with local, organic, seasonal goodness!

Fall CSA Order Form

Hunter’s Moon Share

Fall CSA #2  •  October 17

Full Shares $85  ||  Chard/kale, greens, onions, potatoes, winter squash: acorn/butternut, garlic, watermelon radishes, beets, carrots, apples, applesauce & apple butter.* Deposit: $45     5 more available!

Mini Shares $35  ||  Greens, onions, potatoes, winter squash: acorn/butternut, garlic, parsnips, carrots, beets, applesauce.* Deposit: $20     4 more available!

Snow Moon Share

Fall CSA #3  •  Nov. 7

Full Shares $90  ||  Microgreens, onions, potatoes?, winter squash: acorn/butternut/potimarron, garlic, watermelon radishes, beets, carrots, parsnips, apples, applesauce, cabbage. Deposit: $50     8 more available!


Mini Shares $35  ||  Microgreens, onions, potatoes?, winter squash: acorn/butternut, garlic, parsnips, carrots, beets, applesauce/apple butter. Deposit: $20     Only 1 more available!

*All items subject to change, based on availability.


Fall CSA Order Form

Apples :: Honeycrisp

Mid-Late Season • Sweet-tart

Ripens

Mid-Late September

Characteristics

Known for its exceptional crispness and well-balanced sweet-tart flavor. This pretty, dappled red apple is superb for fresh eating, for baking, and salad as well.

History

Developed by the University of Minnesota. Designated in 1960 as MN 1711, patented in 1988 and released in 1991.

Offspring: SweeTango, Cosmic crisp, First Kiss/Rave.

Parentage: Keepsake x Unknown.

Storage

Stores 6 months or more.

Notes

Named Minnesota's state fruit in 2006. Known as Honeycrunch in Europe. With the success of the Honeycrisp apple it is hard to believe that at one point it was slated to be discarded.

Fall CSA Share Season!

Our first Fall Share is just a couple weeks away! With the chill in the air this morning I cozied up in a sweatshirt and slippers - it indeed feels like fall. Let us welcome Fall and it's harvest and bounty with the Harvest Moon Share! Scroll down for full details...

Email info@alternativerootsfarm.com or text 507-412-7605 to grab a share and make sure of availability - just 4 left for our first share. Come out to the farm, where your food is grown - fill your fridge/pantry, invest in food as medicine, build community and enrich your soul.

Connecting you to the land and farmers that feed you.

 Stay tuned! We plan to host a Market @ the Farm alongside these events!

Fall CSA Shares  ||  Fall CSA pick up is held at the farm, from 4:00-7:00 pm on the dates listed (Wednesdays). Pick up will be market style, bring your own containers. 

“Going to Alternative Roots Farm to pick up our Fall Share is something we really look forward to. It’s fun to see the animals! The vegetables are great and beautifully displayed. Heading out to the farm makes us “town folks” feel like we are part of the harvest season.” -Yvonne & Lee, CSA members

*Items subject to change, based on availability. You can see notes that were made on some changes, due to 15" of rain in June and the continued effects...many items were lost, some are still behind.

ORDER FORM

Fall #1  ||  Harvest Moon Share Wednesday, September 19  Only 4 left!

Full Shares $70  ||  Herbs, celery, chard, kale, greens, onions, potatoes??, winter squash: acorn?/delicata, tomatoes: cherry/slicers, cabbage, garlic, beets, carrots, applesauce & butter, apples. Deposit: $40

SOLD OUT Mini Shares $25  ||  Herbs, chard, onions, potatoes, winter squash: acorn?/delicata, tomatoes: cherry/slicer, garlic, carrots, beets, apples. Deposit: $15

Fall #2  ||  Hunter’s Moon Share Wednesday, October 17

Full Shares $85  ||  Chard/kale, greens, leeks, onions, potatoes??, winter squash: acorn/butternut, garlic, watermelon radishes, beets, carrots, apples, applesauce & butter, tomato-basil soup??. Deposit: $45

Mini Shares $35  ||  Greens, leeks, onions, potatoes??, winter squash: acorn/butternut, garlic, parsnips, carrots beets, applesauce. Deposit: $20

Fall #3  ||  Snow Moon Share Wednesday, November 7

Full Shares $90  ||  Microgreens, leeks, onions, potatoes??, winter squash: acorn/butternut/potimarron, garlic, watermelon radishes, beets, carrots, parsnips, apples, applesauce, cabbage. Deposit: $50

Mini Shares $35  ||  Microgreens, leeks, onions, potatoes??, winter squash: acorn/butternut, garlic, parsnips, carrots, beets, applesauce/butter. Deposit: $20

ORDER FORM

Apples :: Pristine

Pristine apple.

Early • Tart

Ripens

Late July

Characteristics

Wonderfully tart, crisp, juicy and firm, with flavor and sweetness under the tartness. Medium-sized lemony-yellow hued skin with a pink blush, and white to cream flesh. Great flavor, and keeping, for an early apple.

History

Introduced in 1994.

Parentage: Co Op 10 x Camuzat.

Storage

1-2 weeks.

Notes

Has a biennial tendency. 2018 was or first crop and we are delighted with the flavor and crispness for such an early apple! We are excited to add this to our long list of apple varieties.