Editor’s note: Readers may remember our coverage of the shortage of farm workers being experienced this year by Farmer John, particularly in light of the new immigration regulations and restrictions, causing his workers to be delayed by multiple weeks during the planting season.  We reached out to Senator Gillibrand about this issue and the possible contacting of the embassy as well, and Senator Booker soon after expressed to Farmer John that he had contacted the relevant department via email, and also that it is against State Department policy to allow them to contact by phone.  So, they had done all that they were legally allowed to do.  We also published in that article an announcement regarding the need for volunteers in order to help fill the gap caused by this delay.   

Meet Our CSA Farmer!

Here’s your chance to ask Farmer John Krueger any questions you may have about our CSA via Zoom. All are welcome to join the call.

Since 2003, John has been the owner of Circle Brook Farm (organic), Sussex County, NJ.

Zoom: Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 7 p.m.

Here’s the link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83539820507?pwd=jYpHdaPTmisLPDmLJFqjF2D9jJM1jR.1

Passcode: 484012

One tap mobile

+19292056099,,83539820507#,,,,*484012# US (New York)

+16469313860,,83539820507#,,,,*484012# US

See you there!

Below is their update from last month about the need for volunteers and the correspondence with Senator Booker’s office about the US Embassy in Guatemala:

Farmer John still needs our help

Hi Folks,

Many thanks to those who contacted Cory Booker’s office on behalf of the farm. I also filled out a casework request with Andy Kim’s office but got no response. A staffer from Booker’s office finally emailed me, and after I replied to their request for more information and documentation, said that they would contact the US embassy in Guatemala with my request for emergency interviews for five of my workers.

I questioned what they meant by “contact,” stating that they needed to make a phone call because their emails would be ignored, just as mine have been for many years. The staffer replied that the State Dept. did not allow them to communicate with the embassy by phone. There is no longer much chance of any resolution to the dilemma.

I will not have any of my crew for at least 3 more weeks. In the interim, I have a few friends that are helping to do some tractor work. The Foodshed Alliance has put out a request for volunteers, and the Montclair Community Garden will be scheduling a visit with some of their interns. We’ll get by with a little help from our friends!

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More Volunteer Opportunities

Many more thanks to the dozens of members who came out to lend a hand this past Sunday. We were able to clear a section of field of last season’s crop residue and plastic mulch. Today I finished preparing the beds and planted the first round of peas.

We will have more volunteer opportunities over the next several weeks on the weekends. If anyone would like to come out during the week with children on school break or individually, to help with greenhouse work, this would be welcome.

Volunteer days- Saturday 4/4 10 am to 1 pm or 2 pm to 5 pm

• Saturday 4/11, 10 am to 1 pm
• Sunday 4/12, 1 pm to 4 pm
• Saturday 4/18, 1 pm to 4 pm
• Sunday 4/19, 10 am to 1 pm or 2 pm to 5 pm

Bring gloves, drinks, and be prepared to get dirty! Please RSVP directly to [email protected].

Best wishes for a Happy Easter or Passover,
Farmer John

Sign up for the 2026 season

We will again offer a 24-week farm share program for the 2026 season. We anticipate deliveries will begin during the week of June 8. The final delivery will be during the week of November 16.

A slight increase in share prices, consistent with the average inflation rate, is necessary to maintain already slim margins and keep the farm profitable. I believe that the CSA program will continue to provide excellent value.

Premium share: $1,125, or $47/week for, on average, 10-12 items and a larger quantity of many of the items in the basic share. Over the course of the season the premium share will include various less common vegetables, such as escarole, radicchio, fennel and frissee, not found in the basic or half share.

Basic share: $925, or $39/week, for, on average, 9-10 items. It will be approximately 80% the size of the Premium share.

Pre-bagged share: $740, or $31/week for, on average, 9-10 items. The share will be approximately 60% the size of the Premium share. The share price includes the cost of bagging.

We look forward to another great season!
Farmer John

Sign up on our website or use this form. If you want to split a share and don’t have a partner, email [email protected] and provide your name and email address.

Circle Brook Farm Add-ons

Egg Share, Weekly, 24 weeks

Birds are free range and are on pasture for 8 months of the year. They are not certified organic and there is soy in their feed.

1 dozen/week =$150, 2 dozen/week = $275, 3 dozen/week = $395, 4 dozen/week = $505. Fill in this form to get egg shares.

Fruit Share,12 weeks (not consecutive)

Two types of fruit each week, averaging 5-7 lbs./week = $220

Locally sourced fruit to the greatest extent possible. Some local fruit may be organic, most will be eco-grown. This means organic methods are followed as much as possible, but some spray materials which are prohibited for organic production are used, primarily early in the season. It is very difficult to grow organic tree fruit on the east coast due to the high humidity (fungal diseases) and one particular pest (plum curculio).

Eco-grown fruit is monitored and tested for pesticide residues. In the event of crop failures on local orchards we will source only organic fruit from non-local US sources (West Coast: California and Washington).

Fruit will likely include blueberries, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, pluots, hardy kiwi, apples and pears. There is no guarantee that all these items will be available in a given year. Shares that include higher value fruit, such as blueberries, cherries and kiwi, will have lower total weight. While we will continue to include melons in the regular share, we will include a large watermelon in the fruit share.

The fruit for the final 5 or 6 weeks of the season will be primarily different varieties of apples and pears. Fill in this form to get a fruit share.

Mushroom Share, Weekly, 24 weeks

Half pound box = $240

Joe Aochoa is the owner/operator of Innoculated LLC in Fairfield NJ. His operation produces certified organic exotic mushrooms. We are pleased to partner with Joe to provide members with a weekly mushroom share.

Each week you will receive a half pound box with an assortment of different culinary mushrooms. Varieties will include Blue, Green, or Yellow Oysters, Lion’s mane, Black Trumpets and shitakes. Fill in this form to get a mushroom share.

Flower Share, 10 weeks

Flowers = @ $100

Here at Circle Brook Farm, we grow a large assortment of ornamental flowers. These are sold at our Farmer’s markets for $12-15/bouquet. We offer a flower share during a 3 month period, beginning in July and ending in October.

The 10 flower shares will be delivered as availability allows–there will be some consecutive weeks and some pauses. Varieties will include Snapdragons, Lisianthus, Sunflowers, and mixed bouquets featuring Zinnias, Cosmos, Celosias and other beautiful blooms. Brighten up your day! Fill in this form to get a flower share.

Banner Image: Seedlings. Image Credit – Zoe Richardson