Exploring CSA: Answering Frequently Asked Questions

Are you looking to deepen your connection with your food while supporting local farmers? Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, might be just what you're searching for! Read on to explore everything you need to know about CSAs to help you make an informed decision.

What is CSA?

CSA (short for Community Supported Agriculture) is like a subscription to the freshest, most flavorful food your local farm has to offer! When you become a CSA member, you invest in the farm at the beginning of the season - this upfront investment helps farmers cover the costs of seeds, equipment, and labor before the growing season begins. In return, you'll receive a share of the harvest throughout the growing season.

How Does it Work?

Once you've signed up for your share, you'll receive a variety of fresh, locally grown food throughout the season. Each CSA runs differently, but most offer a range of share sizes to accommodate different household sizes and preferences. Some CSAs also include additional farm products such as eggs, dairy, meat, baked goods, and more. Look for a farm with a pickup location nearby, or choose to go to the farm to pick up your share.

What are the Benefits of Joining a CSA? CSA is about more than just food!

• Fresh, Seasonal Produce: Each produce box is a celebration of the season, filled with farm-fresh food that's carefully grown, harvested, and packed by your farmer right before it gets to your table. 

  
  

• Support for Local Farmers: When you join a CSA, you’re also building a partnership with your local farmer, providing financial stability ahead of the growing season and keeping your food dollars local.

  
  

• Connection to the Land: Becoming a CSA member offers an opportunity to learn the story behind your food, who grows it, and how. Many farmers invite members to visit the farm, participate in harvest events, or volunteer!

  
  

• Environmental Impact: Supporting local agriculture reduces the carbon footprint associated with food transportation and supports environmentally friendly farming practices that prioritize soil health and biodiversity.

  
  

• Building Community: CSAs foster connections between consumers and farmers, creating a sense of community around food and farming.

What Can I Expect in My CSA Share?

CSA shares vary depending on the farm's offerings and the time of year, but you can typically expect a wide variety of seasonal produce. In the spring, your share might include greens, radishes, and strawberries, while summer shares might feature tomatoes, peppers, and melons. Fall shares often include hearty root vegetables, squash, and apples, while winter shares may include storage crops like potatoes, onions, and carrots. Many CSA farms also provide newsletters or recipe suggestions to help you make the most of your share each week!

 Are There Different Types of CSAs?

Yes, each farm has unique CSA offerings that appeal to different preferences and lifestyles. Some CSAs offer traditional, pre-packaged shares, while others allow members to customize their shares based on personal preferences. Check out our breakdown of the four main types of CSA shares for more information.

How Do I Find a CSA Near Me?

Finding a CSA in your area is easier than you might think! Head to our Farm Search Tool, where you can search farms by share size, pickup location, and more. Once you've found a farm, head to their website to learn more and sign up for your share. Then get ready to experience the joys of farm-fresh eating firsthand!

With your CSA membership, you're saying YES to delicious fresh food, thriving local farmers, and a stronger connection to where your food comes from! 

July CSA Share from Steadfast Acres

Exploring different CSA options

The concept of community supported agriculture (CSA) originated in the 1960s with Dr. Booker T. Whatley as a way to support local Black farmers. Called “clientele membership clubs” at the time, the basis of the model was an up-front payment to ensure farmers had the capital to start their season strong. In return, members would receive weekly allotments of food from the farm during the growing season.

Sound familiar? Today’s CSA models still often feature pre-season payments as a way to become a “member” of the farm. But over the past 40 years, CSA membership has expanded beyond a box of weekly food, with many farms now offering several types of CSA shares with more flexibility for their customers. 

Each farm has unique CSA offerings that appeal to different preferences and lifestyles, but we've broken down a few of the more common styles of CSA below:

1. Traditional CSA: The cornerstone of CSA, the traditional model involves members receiving a weekly or bi-weekly share of the farm's harvest - either picking up directly on the farm, or at a local pickup site coordinated by the farmer.

2. Market-Style CSA: For those who appreciate flexibility and choice, market-style CSA allows members to choose their items at a designated pick-up spot or farmers' market stand. "Shop" for your produce from what's available that week.

3. Customizable CSA: Farms offering customizable CSA options allow members to tailor their shares based on individual preferences. Don't like eggplant? Swap it out with a kohlrabi, so your box is always full of what you want to eat.

4. Worker Share CSA: For those seeking a more hands-on connection to their food, worker shares offer members the ability to contribute their time and labor on the farm in exchange for a share of the harvest.

And CSA isn't just for produce! While the CSA model started with members signing up to receive shares of vegetables and fruits grown on the farm, many farms now offer add-on shares (or entire CSA shares!) of other farm products. Meat, eggs, herbs, bread, flowers, value-added products, and so much more can be purchased in advance through your local farmer.

When you get locally grown food from a farmer you know, you get more than just delicious ingredients for your meals. CSA memberships offer a meaningful connection between consumers and their farmer neighbors.

To find a farm (and CSA share) that works for your needs, use our Farm Search Tool and filter by what you're looking for. Whichever type resonates with you, supporting local farmers through a CSA is both delicious and fulfilling!

Celebrating national apprenticeship week!

As the leader of the first registered apprenticeship for organic vegetable production in the country, we are excited to be celebrating National Apprenticeship Week, November 13 - 19, 2023!

National Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide celebration where employers, industry associations, labor organizations, community-based organizations, workforce partners, education providers, and government leaders showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship.

We asked a few of our current apprentices and farmer educators what they value most about the program, and here's what they had to say:

What does apprenticeship mean to you?

• To me, apprenticeship means accessibility to learn and diversify skills from a knowledgeable and experienced teacher. Being able to learn while actively doing the trained skill everyday is beyond helpful in establishing rooted knowledge. - Laura Seleski, 2023 cohort at Gwenyn Hill Farm

• Apprenticeship means an opportunity to spread the amazing role of veggie growers to more folks! To teach is also to learn and the value of one’s own farm is only increased through opportunities like this. - Robyn Calvey, Farmer Educator at Park Ridge Organics

• To me, apprenticeship means hands-on learning in a positive and welcoming environment where I can ask all of my questions.

• This program is a unique opportunity to get experience at the manager level. Being formally partnered with an experienced farmer gives apprentices the confidence they need to forge ahead in this industry - especially during a time when many farms are going under. - Brian Randall, 2022 Cohort at Gwenyn Hill Farm

• Apprenticeship means an opportunity to teach and watch new farmers grow. It pushes me out of my comfort zone as an educator and I find that I’m learning too! - Laura Mortimore, Farmer Educator at Orange Cat Community Farm

FairShare's Organic Vegetable Farm Manager Apprenticeship Program provides paid hands-on training that benefits producers and apprentices alike. Through this 18-month, competency-based program, apprentices work with experienced farmers to develop their skills and learn the ins-and-outs of what it takes to run a successful farm business--from seeding and transplanting to sales, marketing, leadership, and so much more!

What began as a cohort of 3 in 2021 has grown into 20 active farmer-apprentice pairs in 2023! If you're interested in helping more future farmers get connected with this awesome resource, here are three ways to do so:

1. Share this blog post about the program! Tell folks why you're excited about supporting the future veggie growers in our communities.

2. Make a gift to FairShare! Your contribution ensures the next generation of farmers can get the tools and training they need to thrive.

3. Email Sarah (sarah@csacoalition.org) with questions or comments! We're always happy to talk about our work.