I signed up for a CSA share at a new farm this week. (Why? Read my first newsletter for the answer!)
It was a careful, thoughtful choice this time. There are more CSA farms in my area now than there were 15 years ago, each with its own unique vision of what a CSA can be. I knew this time I would have an experience in my memory that can’t be repeated. I don’t want to spend the next growing season comparing the new CSA to the previous one, but it will happen from time to time. It’s unavoidable. I’m starting out mindfully so it can be the next great experience.
Are you thinking about joining a CSA this year? I enthusiastically encourage you to do it! But, there are some things you’ll want to consider before you join. These are some of the most common sources of misunderstanding and friction I witnessed during my 15 years as a CSA member. If you are already a CSA member, don’t wander away just yet. You may find some good advice here too.
The financial support is not just covering the cost of the produce. While your membership may cost hundreds of dollars, you are not going to receive hundreds of dollars’ worth of produce in return. This is not a transaction; it is an investment. You’re covering the costs of farming, as well as the costs of failure. Mother Nature cannot be bought or controlled.
Know what is seasonal in your area, and how you might use it, before you commit. No, you cannot have a weekly share entirely made up of broccoli. That is not how this works. Each week there is a limited amount of produce to be divided up as equitably (note I did not say equally) as possible. Some weeks your share will be smaller, especially at the beginning and end of the growing season. Some weeks certain crops will not be available, due to circumstances beyond the farmer’s control. This is all very dependent upon where you live, and what ways the farmer has tried to mitigate temperature, moisture and soil nutrient fluctuations.
Be a flexible cook. If you’re a planner, I see you. I love planning my weekly menus before I grocery shop, and I always feel calmer when I know those decisions have already been made, and the ingredients are all at hand. But it is often not possible to perfectly plan your menu around your CSA share. You will come to know approximately what to expect each week, but there will always be surprises. Embrace them! Know what your farmer is growing, and spend time with a favorite beverage and your cookbooks (or the internet) learning ways to use all of it.
Find out if the farm has a fund for shares for those who can’t afford them on their own. If you have the means, add to that fund when you purchase your share. CSA shares are a highly privileged way to get local produce, and out of reach for many. As my new CSA declares boldly on their website, “Everyone has a right to good food.” I agree.
Not all CSAs are “organic”. Here’s why, and why it might not matter. CSA farms are small, and operate on tiny budgets. Many do not become profitable for years, if at all. The process of obtaining organic certification is costly, and time-consuming, time the farmer probably doesn’t have because they’re busy growing your vegetables. There are sometimes conditions on the land that cannot be remedied to the degree that is required for certification. That does not mean your produce is not safe and wholesome. Most CSAs are doing all that they can to avoid using harmful pesticides and excessive fertilizer, and are incorporating farming techniques that add to the soil’s health, rather than depleting it. If you have questions, search their website for details, or drop them an email. Be patient, you may not get a reply for several days.
Start slow. If the CSA that interests you offers different share sizes, try the smallest one. It may not be enough for your needs, but it will be enough to discern whether that CSA is the one for you. It will also help you become aware of what is in season when in your area. Last summer, I got to know my new CSA farm by going there every Saturday to get a “veggie box”, a pre-paid box of assorted produce available that day. It was always bountiful, always fresh, and the folks doing the farming were always there to meet and greet, and answer questions.
Is there anything included in the share besides vegetables? Some CSAs will include other products produced on the farm in a share, some will offer them as add-ons to your share, and some, like the one I have joined, will offer extras to be purchased separately on your pick-up day. Common items are eggs, freshly baked breads and pastries, milk and cheese (cow or goat), meats, and flowers.
Is there a work-for-share option? This is a very common CSA model. Some CSAs will require a small time commitment in addition to a financial one. Some would rather not deal with inexperienced folks roaming about the farm creating havoc. Some will offer a small discount in return for work on the farm.
Each CSA has its own way of getting the job done. It’s up to you to do your own research, so you have complete understanding of what can be expected. Don’t expect the farmer to educate you from Square 1. They don’t have time for that.
Joining a CSA is more than a way to get fresh, seasonal, local produce. It’s a different kind of connection to your food, and your community. Trust me, when you can look the person who grew your food in the eye and say “thank you”, every mouthful has new meaning. You could conceivably eat all week from your weekly CSA visit. Will it cost more than your weekly grocery store visit? Most likely. Will it feel and taste differently than your weekly grocery store visit? I think the answer is obvious.
So, if you’re still excited about becoming a CSA member, good for you! The next step is to find the CSAs closest to where you live, or where you work, whichever would be most convenient for picking up your share each week (Some even offer delivery to offices! See if your employer is interested, and get a group together to make this worth the farm’s time). You can simply search online, “CSAs near (your town)”, or you can try Local Harvest, a website that has served as a one-stop shop for local products for at least as long as I’ve been doing this, and I’ve been searching out local foods for 20 years. One caveat: be sure to check in the farms’ profiles when they last updated their entries. Some of the farms listed are no longer in business, and it’s up to them to remove their entries. Some have not done that.
I’d love to hear from you! Are you joining a CSA? Have you been a member for a while? Leave a comment, about CSAs or anything about food. Thanks for reading!