Community Supported Agriculture
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Invest in local agriculture by enjoying high-quality products and produce when you create a partnership with a local farm.
Plan to eat an array of whole foods and fresh products this year by signing up for a CSA today!
#FarmToFork #Agritourism #ExperienceButlerCounty
The perks of CSA programs are endless. CSA promotes access to healthy foods and strengthens sustainable food systems. By purchasing a CSA, you support the local economy by investing in a farm ahead of their season. You can also grow and develop a relationship with the farm by learning more about their processes and what they grow, become exposed to new vegetables and ways of cooking, and have the opportunity to eat fresh food with amazing flavor and vitamin benefits.
How a CSA Works:
A local farm offers a certain number of “shares” to the public, sort of like a subscription service, where consumers purchase a share for farm products like vegetables and eggs.
There is shared risk within the CSA model which means that members pay up front for the whole season. By investing in the season, you are enabling your local farmer to prepare the fields for harvest, buy seed, fix farm equipment, and more. This shared risk creates a sense of unity between farmers and community members. Items vary throughout the season and include products such as ears of corn, a quart of strawberries, grass-fed beef, and so much more!
Where Can You Buy a CSA?
Harvest Valley Farms grows over 160 different varieties of fruits and vegetables using sustainable practices and picking as much daily produce to market within 24 hours. Pickup each week is set up like a farmer’s market, where local members have the ability to personally choose their vegetables. This gives members the opportunity to choose products, as well as try vegetables that are in season.
Harvest Valley has a cheese CSA, as well as an Organic Shade Grown Coffee CSA that are partnerships with other local businesses around Pittsburgh. Each week, CSA members receive a weekly email newsletter highlighting the “vegetable of the week,” a recipe, and updates on the farm, crops, and employees.
Freedom Farms has the goal to provide fresh, nutritionally dense food and family-friendly service to the local community. They offer three types of CSAs: meat, produce, and dairy, as well as the choice between a full season or a single season CSA giving you options for what is right for your family. The CSA share is modeled, where you simply receive the freshest and most bountiful products each week and you are not able to pick and choose what is in your share, which creates an opportunity for you to experience a variety of products throughout the season.
In addition, members receive weekly recipes that can help you learn to use the different items in your share that you may not be familiar with such as leeks or simply give you inspiration for a new way to prepare a dish.