“You, as a food buyer, have the distinct privilege of proactively participating in shaping the world your children will inherit.” – Joel Salatin
What is a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)?
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a production and marketing model whereby consumers buy shares of a farm’s harvest in advance.
Read more at: https://growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.edu/growingsmallfarms-csaguide/
- Variety – Local farms will often grow heirloom varieties of vegetables and fruits that you simply cannot find in grocery stores. From rainbow carrots to colorful chards and tomatoes… to lemon & apple cucumbers, purple peas, and Romanesco… your taste buds will appreciate every bite of variety a local CSA has to offer.
- Fresh – Produce in your CSA is nearly always harvested within the past 24 hours… if not within hours of you picking it up. The freshness guarantees that you are getting the most nutrient dense vegetables that will stay fresh longer.
- Time Saver – Save time shopping… skip multiple aisles in the grocery store since top quality produce will be hand selected for you by your local farmer.
- Economical – Investing in your local farm by purchasing a CSA is often cheaper than buying fresh produce at a grocery store. You usually receive 25% more product for your money in a weekly CSA share than if you spent the same amount on products at a store.
- Buying Local Makes Economic Sense – For every dollar that you spend supporting your local farmer through a CSA or in a farm store 100% goes to that farmer. According to the USDA, every dollar invested in your local farm generates a $2.67 return in the community.
- Environmentally Friendly – The food in your CSA has undergone no travel, no processing, and often very limited packaging. On average fruits and vegetables travel 1300-2000 miles to get from farms to stores. Local produce means less CO2 emissions from energy required to transport and refrigerate produce.
Photo Credit: Christopher Paquette from Philadelphia, Pa., USA
