At the Heart of CSA

We are fortunate to live in a region that is literally and figuratively a fertile ground for farmers to grow both food and community. Southern Wisconsin is at the heart of a thriving community supported agriculture (CSA) movement. CSA is a model of farm and community connection that is both radical and radically simple; families should know where their food comes from and farmers should make a living as stewards of the land growing top quality food.

Community supported agriculture’s unique social and economic arrangement allows farmers and farm members to work together to share the responsibility of producing and delivering fresh food. Members support the farm by paying an annual fee prior to planting that entitles them to a “share” of the season’s harvest. Once the season begins, members pick up a weekly or bi-weekly box of fresh food raised by their farmers. CSA is different than a buying club or other form of box delivery because payment, relationships and communications are directly with the farm family that is growing your food. No middlepeople, no aggregation, no questions about who grew what or how it was grown. Even better, if you do have questions, you have a real person to ask—your farmer.

Choose the Share That’s Right for You
CSA shares are as diverse as the farms and farmers who grow them. Size, frequency, location of delivery, price and box contents all vary by farm. Finding the right farm for your family is all part of the fun.

Most vegetable CSA farms offer a “standard” share which lasts 20-24 weeks, starts in May or June, and provides enough food for four healthy eaters who like to cook. There are often half-share or bi-weekly delivery options for smaller families as well as early or late season shares to round out your seasonal diet. Each year more nonvegetable farmers are offering CSA shares featuring meat, fruit, flowers, eggs and other farm-raised products.

Choose Your Pick Up Location
Choose a farm that delivers to a spot that is convenient; you’ll have to go there every week for the whole season. Pick up sites are often located at a member’s house, a local business, farmers markets or at the farm itself. Check out the CSA Coalition’s website for a detailed pick up location map to narrow down your search for a farm.

Choose Your Farm Culture
Mix-and-matching location, farm culture and food selection can be tricky and require a little more legwork from the prospective member. Identifying your personal priorities in advance will help you find a farm that is a good fit. For example, do you want to visit your farm regularly? If so, make sure the actual farm location (not only the pick-up location) is convenient and, importantly, that the farm welcomes drop-ins or sponsors regular member events. Alternately, if you know you’re busy in the summer and likely won’t get out to the farm but really appreciate “unique” veggies, then chat with a few farmers to find out if they grow your favorites and, given your schedule, make sure the pick-up location is really easy for you to get to.

Choose Your Communication Style
Farmer communications and on-farm events are aspects of belonging to a CSA farm that enrich the experience. They elevate what could be a necessary chore of food procurement to a delightful adventure of communitybuilding and education. Most farms create a newsletter, email or blog post that accompanies their delivery and includes notes about farm activities, descriptions of what’s in the delivery, cooking tips and recipes. On-farm special events provide priceless opportunities to take it all in, taste food that is seconds from the harvest, and build community with others who eat from your farm.

Once you’ve selected your share type, farm and pick-up location, all you need to do is fill out your CSA enrollment form found on the farm’s website or brochure, and send your payment to the farm. Some farms also offer financial assistance or accept SNAP benefits (food stamps) to make farm-fresh CSA food more accessible to low income families. A list of these farms is available through the CSA Coalition’s Partner Shares Program.

You’re now a part of a farm community as well as a wider community of individuals committed to their health, local economy and environment—a community that is willing to create change through responsible eating and conscious investment in our local farms. Let the good meals begin!