Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is a growing, mutually-beneficial partnership between local farmers and their community. Small farmers secure essential income at the beginning of the growing season, and people in the seasonal shares get weekly or bi-weekly access to fresh, local produce throughout the growing season. CSA provides farmers financial security, and community members get good quality food from local farmers.
There are roughly 4,000 CSA programs across the United States.
Most of the CSA shares supply a 3-5 person household. During the approximately 15-30 week season, each CSA box contains a variety of fresh food depending upon the harvest. A weekly selection can include fresh produce, eggs, dairy products, and whole grains. Each weekly box provides a new opportunity to explore new recipes and new ingredients. If you find that your share offers more than you can eat, share it with friends, freeze, pickle, or can your fresh produce. Now is the time of year to sign up for a weekly or bi-weekly subscription.
Some CSAs offer a self-pick operation.
A selected area of blueberries, apples, peaches, pumpkins, cucumbers, grapes, and other produce and flowers is available for members to pick on certain days. Members are always the first to receive the best selection before opening up to sell to the general public.
Picking up your weekly CSA share is fun and educational for the whole family,
Children can gain an understanding of where and how the food they are eating is grown. They also become appreciative of how fresh local grown produce tastes. Now is the time of year to sign up for a weekly or bi-weekly subscription.
To find a CSA near you, explore our interactive map.
Read our spotlight on McConnells’ Farm and Market in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
