Community Supported Agriculture Guide
Join a CSA and get the freshest produce while directly supporting local farmers. Learn how farm shares work and find the perfect CSA for your family.
“Supporting local farms today ensures they'll be here tomorrow”
How CSA Works
Join a Local Farm
Pay upfront for a season's share of the harvest, typically $400-800 for a full share.
Farm Grows Your Food
Your payment provides working capital for seeds, equipment, and labor through the season.
Weekly Pickup
Collect your share each week at the farm, a farmers market, or designated pickup location.
Enjoy the Harvest
Receive a variety of seasonal produce - whatever is ripe and ready that week.
Why Join a CSA?
Freshest Possible Produce
Harvested hours before pickup, not days or weeks before like grocery stores.
Support Local Farmers
Your upfront payment helps farmers buy seeds and supplies when they need them most.
Better Value
CSA shares typically cost 15-30% less than buying the same produce at retail.
Eat Seasonally
Discover new vegetables and learn to cook with what's in season.
Know Your Farmer
Build a relationship with the people who grow your food.
Reduce Food Miles
Your food travels 5-50 miles instead of an average of 1,500.
Types of CSA Shares
Many farms offer multiple share options to fit different households
Full Share
$500-800/season
8-12 items per week, enough for a family
Best for: Families, meal preppers, produce lovers
Half Share
$300-450/season
5-7 items per week, perfect for couples
Best for: Couples, small households, beginners
Egg Share
$100-200/season
1-2 dozen eggs per week
Best for: Add-on to vegetable share
Meat Share
$300-600/season
Monthly packages of local meat
Best for: Those wanting local, pasture-raised protein
Fruit Share
$150-300/season
Seasonal fruits: berries, apples, peaches
Best for: Add-on for fruit lovers
Flower Share
$150-250/season
Weekly bouquet of seasonal flowers
Best for: Flower enthusiasts, event planning
What to Expect Each Season
Lettuce, spinach, radishes, asparagus, peas, herbs, strawberries
Lighter boxes, lots of greens. Perfect for salads.
Tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, corn, beans, cucumbers, berries
Abundance! Largest boxes of the year. Preserve what you can't eat.
Winter squash, potatoes, carrots, apples, kale, Brussels sprouts
Storage crops appear. Flavors deepen and sweeten after frost.
Some CSAs offer winter shares: root vegetables, storage crops, greens
Extended season CSAs use cold frames and tunnels.
Questions to Ask Before Joining
Not all CSAs are the same - find one that fits your lifestyle
What's included in the share?
Understand what you'll receive and if it fits your eating habits
When and where is pickup?
Make sure location and timing works with your schedule
What happens if I miss a pickup?
Know the policy - some farms donate, others hold for a day
How long is the season?
Typically 20-26 weeks, May through October
Do you offer vacation holds?
Some farms let you skip weeks; others don't
What growing practices do you use?
Organic, conventional, IPM, regenerative - know what you're buying
Can I visit the farm?
Good farms welcome visitors and host farm days
What if there's a crop failure?
Understand how risk is shared between farm and members
CSA vs. Farmers Market: Which is Right for You?
- You want to commit to eating local all season
- You enjoy cooking with whatever arrives
- You want to directly support a specific farm
- You prefer consistent weekly produce
- You like the challenge of new vegetables
- You want to choose exactly what you buy
- Your schedule varies week to week
- You prefer to compare multiple vendors
- You're picky about specific vegetables
- You enjoy the social market experience
Pro tip: Many CSA farms also sell at farmers markets! Meet them at the market first to try their produce before committing to a full share.
Find CSA Farms at Local Markets
The best way to find a CSA is at your local farmers market. Meet the farmers, taste their produce, and sign up for next season's share.