Due to our recent, tragic loss of our field crew anchor, Tino Hernandez, we are taking one week off from harvesting and packing CSA shares in Week 9. We will not be delivering Main Season shares on Sunday, September 4^th, Wednesday, September 7^th, Thursday, September 8^th or Friday, September 9^th.

To ensure all of our members receive the value that they paid for at the beginning of the season, we will be adding an extra week in late October to make up the lost week. Those members in the midst of their 4-week share will have their remaining boxes pushed back by one week.

To honor our commitments to our add-on partners, we will still be delivering Main Season add-on shares, including fruit, shiitakes, coffee, sauerkraut and honey. We will be sending multiple messages regarding this shift in our schedule so please check e-mail for more information and reach out to farmers@oxbow.org with any and all questions.

Thank you, dear community, for the outpouring of support to the Hernandez family and all of us at Oxbow. With Tino’s passing, we are feeling so much loss and so much love all at the same time. Our team has rallied and many helpful hands from near and far have pitched in to pick beans and bag them for your shares, to get big, beautiful carrots up and out of the ground, to plant out our last successions of fall crops, and so much more. We are honored by our community and grateful for it.

Right before tragedy struck, we had announced to our hard-working farm team that everyone would be able to enjoy a 3-day weekend over Labor Day.  Much of our crew has been working 6 days a week for almost 6 months — a job requirement of farming! — and all have more than earned some rest and relaxation, as well as a chance to enjoy the beauty of a Pacific Northwest summer. We strategized about how to do it so that we could continue our full operation, staggering the days off and working the balance of pulling off both CSA and produce sales.

Now, we are down four farmers with the season at its peak. The Hernandez family knows our land and our crops better than nearly anyone. This family worked our land like it was their own, and we are deeply feeling the loss of our friends and our teammates. Their value to our operation is immeasurable – skilled farmers who could do it all, welcomed as many hours as we could offer, and cherished the opportunity to work together as a family — husband, wife, son and nephew. We are all better farmers for having worked alongside them.

Yolanda and her family are beyond grateful for the time and space to grieve their loss and honor their beloved Tino. Because we are all grieving, and because we have all dug as deep as we can these last few weeks, we are honoring our commitment to giving crew a much-needed 3-day break. Our team, our crops, and your shares will all be better for it and we greatly appreciate your understanding.

Thank you to all who have donated to the Hernandez family to assist with funeral expenses and to help the children stay in school.