Instead of thinking about snowplows and ice, I am already dreaming about warm summer nights filled with good friends and cool drinks, and biting into sweet corn, strawberries, and the best of the summer’s harvest.
To get the freshest of summer’s bounty, consider joining a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. Farmers sell members “shares” (either full or half) of their farms and, in return, members get a portion of the harvest every week throughout the growing season.
Most CSAs run from May/June to October/November and cost between $600 and 800 for a full share (serves two to four people), and $350 to $400 for a half share. Budgeting becomes a lot easier since members have already paid for their produce for the next 12 weeks and don’t have to worry about rising prices.
In addition to fruits and vegetables, some farms offer herbs, flowers, eggs, milk or meats as part of their CSAs. Most of the applications are due in March. Many farms are first-come, first-served and have a waiting list, so it is important to apply early.
Denise Sheehan is the member services associate for the Southeast Region of the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture(PASA) and has been a CSA member since 2001.
“The first and foremost benefit of CSAs is the access to the freshest produce you can buy,” she said. “Foods for CSAs are either harvested that day or at the very least the day before. It’s great quality food. And of course, the whole concept of CSAs is the communities, the fact that you are surrounded by people who are looking for the same things, so there is a great sense of community that comes out of these.”
PASA matches consumers to sustainable farmers in the area and has a lot of educational events and classes. Visit pasafarming.org to learn more.
Southeastern Pennsylvania has almost 40 CSAs, and each is unique. Be sure to shop around and find the farm that works best for you. Some farms require members to work a certain amount of hours a month for a lower price; many farms have pre-packed produce (you pick it up at the farms or get delivery), while others offer a mix and match or pick-your-own options; payment can be required upfront or monthly; and some are exclusively organic.
Jeffrey Rupertus and his wife joined Wimer’s Organic CSA last season, and his favorite part was getting to know his local farmer.
“The money is staying within my community and state, and I actually get to shake the hand of the person who is growing my food and benefiting from my business. I know he cares,” Rupertus said. “Shortly after getting involved in the sustainability movement, I read something about how we spend so much time choosing the person that styles our hair — something that has such small consequence — but so few of us actually know, or care, who grows our food, something that has great consequence on our health and the health of our planet.”
The average piece of produce in the supermarket travels 1,500 miles from farm to market,
and starts its journey unripe. Produce that comes directly from farms has more vitamins and flavor and consumers can avoid or reduce the use of chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, pesticides or genetically modified seed by choosing local family farms.
CSAs are a great way to discover new foods and new friends. Throughout the growing season, many farms offer children’s programs, classes, potluck dinners, recipe exchanges and member events. Buylocalpa.org and localharvest.org are both great resources to learn more about CSAs and allow users to search CSAs and local foods by zip codes.
