Experience Peak Flavor with In-Season Produce

Although winter feels like it just arrived, farmers are already getting ready for another busy growing season! Colder weather is often when farmers take a break from the physically demanding peak-season harvest grind, but now is also the time when farmers are purchasing seeds, organizing crop plans, and getting ready for the year ahead.

One of the simplest (and most delicious) ways to support your local farmers is through Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA. Similar to a subscription box, members purchase a “share” at the beginning of the growing season and in return, receive a weekly or bi-weekly box of farm-fresh foods—carefully grown, harvested, and packed by the farmer—all season long. CSA lets you buy food directly from a grower near you—stocking your fridge with the season’s freshest produce while supporting a local farmer. Signing up in advance of the growing season helps farmers plan for the season ahead and cover the initial annual costs of farm operation. And these colder winter months are when shares start filling up!

Along with amazing varieties and stellar flavors from farm-fresh food, other benefits of CSA typically include:

• Farm newsletters with each delivery, including notes about what’s happening on the farm, what produce you’re receiving that week, cooking tips, recipes, and more.

• Opportunities to visit the farm and attend farm events.

• A personal connection to the hands that grow your food. You know exactly where your food is coming from, who grew it, and can rest assured that it was picked within days of getting to your table.

• A variety of options to get your produce, including: extended season shares (spring, fall, winter), customizable shares (pick what goes in your box each week), market shares (pick what you want directly at the farmers’ market), and various share sizes to fit your household’s needs.

• Payment plans to spread the share cost across the season.

• Financial support for eligible households through Partner Shares, a program that provides cost assistance to purchase CSA shares (visit csacoalition.org/partner-shares).

• Knowing your farmer uses sustainable and organic farming practices.

Sign up for a weekly farm box to explore local flavor, build healthy habits and never run out of produce. Learn more about CSA and start planning your 2025 veggie season at csacoalition.org/about-csa.

Not just for veggies!

While the CSA model started with members signing up to receive shares of vegetables, many farms now offer add-on shares of other farm products in addition to produce. By adding on farm products like apples, bread, coffee, eggs, meat, flowers and more, CSA members are able to check off items from their grocery list all in one stop from a farmer they know!