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CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Week 1

Byirisandhoney

20160524_121737

I picked up my first share from the CSA today from Strite’s Orchard.  CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.  CSAs are a way for local farmers to share their harvest with members.  A CSA member typically pays a fee up front for a certain number of shares and each week receives a share from the farm’s harvest.  Some CSAs may even include eggs, dairy products, or flowers.

The CSA program from Strite’s consists of 26 weekly boxes of in season fruits and vegetables.  Each box contains 6-7 different items.  Because of the rain we have been having in the area, the CSA at Strite’s started a week later than anticipated.  In addition to a four pack of Impatiens, this week’s box contained:

  • Radishes
  • Asparagus
  • Spring Onions
  • Kale
  • Spinach

The Strite family, who started farming in this area in 1843, has a 300-acre farm where they sell produce and baked goods, as well as milk, grass-fed beef from another local farm and more.  Throughout the growing season they sometimes have something called “pick your own” where you get to go out into the field and pick produce items, such as strawberries, pumpkins, etc.  It is only about a five-minute drive from my house so I love to support it.  There are also other pick up locations throughout the area to make it convenient for community members to participate.  One of the employees at the farm even sends out a weekly newsletter with recipes that include the produce received for the week and other farm information.

Find a local farm in your area to see if they have a CSA at LocalHarvest.