CSA Shares: 3 Things to Consider

If you love fresh local produce straight from the farm and want to learn more, this post is for you! CSA is short for Community Supported Agriculture. As the name indicates, the goal is all about supporting your local agricultural community. By signing up for a CSA share you form a direct relationship with the farm. This is important for farms as it allows them to receive all revenue from their products, rather than losing a portion to a middleman. In return for supporting the farm, you get incredibly fresh and local produce week after week. I have been a member of Edible Earth Farm’s CSA program for 5 years now and absolutely love it! (I’m not getting anything for mentioning them, I just genuinely love their program.)

Is a CSA share right for you? Here are three things to consider:

1. Pick-up location and day

It is common practice for farms to have a variety of designated drop off locations in their service area. Deliveries are most often made on a weekly basis. Many farms choose local business to serve as their drop off/pick up locations, while others may allow members to sign up to use their home as a host site. For example, I pick up my share every Thursday between 3-8pm at a home near where I live.

Larger cities may have several farms providing CSA shares, compared to small cities whose options will be limited if they exist at all. I recommend finding a location close to your home or work. Sometimes the last thing you want to do is go out of your way.

2. Taste preferences

If you love fresh produce and like trying new things a CSA might be for you. Farms grow a wide variety of produce, and these items grow and mature at different rates. The produce provided in the weekly shares will vary greatly from the beginning of the season to the end. Most farms do not allow members to choose their items week to week. What you receive is often simply what is ready for harvest that week. However, some farms (like Edible Earth Farm) allow you to choose what produce you receive each week.

Shares will contain common items like leaf lettuce, herbs, peppers, and tomatoes. However, they can also contain less common items like garlic scapes, or kohlrabi. It is important to be willing to be flexible and creative in the kitchen when you sign up for a share. For me, it has been a great way to try new foods as well as different varieties of foods I  love.

3. Cost

Another key component to CSA shares is how payments are made. Rather than paying weekly, sign up and payment are required prior to the start of the season. This ensures the farm has enough money to cover expenses to prepare for the season. While the initial cost may seem high (often several hundred dollars for small shares), remember that shares are delivered weekly for up to 20-25 weeks depending on your area.

That being said, there are many options out there. Some farms offer a “height of the harvest” share which is fewer deliveries in the middle of the season, and therefore cheaper. There may be ongoing enrollment if slots remain open. Others allow payments to be made in a few separate installments prior to the season. You may also consider splitting a share with a friend or relative.

Does this sound like something you’re interested in?

Yes!: Great! Glad to hear it. If you live in western PA/Pittsburgh area check out Edible Earth Farm here for more. Or search for a farm near you.

No, or unsure: That’s ok too! It is a big commitment. If you travel often, find it too expensive, or whatever your reason may be, there are other ways you can still support your local farms. Check out farmers markets in your area, road side produce stands, or the local section at your grocery store.

 

Feel free to post questions or comments below, I’d love to hear from you!

 

Here are a few examples of my share this summer: