The Leander farm started selling curbside produce to go as an alternative to its regular farm stand. Customers can order premade bags of farmers-choice produce to be picked up on Mondays. Owner Becky Tamez said curbside produce bags will continue through May 22.
"You can't just stock up on it, like toilet paper," said Becky Tamez, who owns the farm with her husband, who is best known as "Farmer Pete."
Becky said they have fed 50 to 55 families each week with their curbside produce bags and Community Supported Agriculture member produce.
The Tamez family started Isle Acre Farms after wanting to cook healthier for their young family. Becky said they began studying the food system and were appalled at how food was treated. Neither owner comes from a long line of farmers, Becky said. Pete learned all his farm knowledge from his own research and in classes with other farmers.
"We just wanted to grow food," Becky said. "We don't want to put any chemicals on it. We want kids to be able to come out here and eat straight off the vine, and they can."
Becky estimates the farm has lost 30% of its business since shifting to only curbside pickups. All farm classes, tours and other farm events were canceled.
She said their CSA program is still running, but members now pick up vegetables with curbside delivery. CSA families can also receive chicken from Bountiful Acres and eggs from Great Oaks Farms with their pickups, which is a huge help during these times, Becky said. The next CSA season registration starts May 22. Isle Acre Farms' regular farm stand will restart May 26 on Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at their farm near Old Town Leander.
With a major shift in business, Becky said they miss meeting customers and sharing vegetables and recipes with them. They usually know customers by name and about their family. But this season, they know their customers by the vehicle and not by the face.
"That's part of shopping local is that you get to know your farmers," Becky said.
Isle Acre Farms
11327 Hero Way W., Leander
www.isleacrefarms.com
