Community Supported Agriculture
What is a CSA?
Community Supported Agriculture, CSA for short, is a partnership between the consumer (you!) and the person growing or raising your food. Similar to a subscription service, you pay the farmer upfront and in return you’ll receive an assortment of local fresh food items throughout the season, generally on a weekly basis.
This model is great for the farmer because it essentially means that the folks purchasing the food are sharing in both the rewards and risks of the season right along with the grower. As a consumer, you benefit too. Not only do you get the assurance of bountiful shares of delicious local food all season long, but unlike shopping weekly, where you select items on your own, CSAs allow the opportunity to receive new and exciting items right along with your go-to favorites.
CSAs also provide the perfect opportunity to build a relationship with the people who grow your food, to see where your food comes from, and to taste the freshest food our region has to offer.
A few things to consider:
Size & Price
How big is a share? Will it feed two? Four? What will it cost for the season? Some CSAs offer a “big box” and “small box” – talk with the farmer about what a typical share looks like. One of the great benefits of knowing the folks who grow your food, is that they can tell you all about it!
Pick up & delivery day
Where and when can you expect to pick up your CSA? Will you need to do pickups at the farm or is there a local drop spot? What day/time is the pickup? Will it work for your schedule?
Length of the season and contents of the share.
How many weeks does your CSA run? What can you expect to receive with the subscription? Does the share include value-added products? Value added products may come from the farmer themselves or partner farms/businesses who use local produce, meats or cheeses to create value-added items such as breads, jams, fermets, etc.
Ready to join a KC Food Circle CSA?
Looking for other ways to find local food?
Our Eat Local KC Map, to easily find restaurants, grocery stores, farmers markets, growers, and community partners all offering more of the delicious locally grown and raised food you love! See the Map
Community Supported Agriculture, CSA for short, is a partnership between the consumer (you!) and the person growing or raising your food. Similar to a subscription service, you pay the farmer upfront and in return you’ll receive an assortment of local fresh food items throughout the season, generally on a weekly basis.
This model is great for the farmer because it essentially means that the folks purchasing the food are sharing in both the rewards and risks of the season right along with the grower. As a consumer, you benefit too. Not only do you get the assurance of bountiful shares of delicious local food all season long, but unlike shopping weekly, where you select items on your own, CSAs allow the opportunity to receive new and exciting items right along with your go-to favorites.
CSAs also provide the perfect opportunity to build a relationship with the people who grow your food, to see where your food comes from, and to taste the freshest food our region has to offer.
A few things to consider:
Size & Price
How big is a share? Will it feed two? Four? What will it cost for the season? Some CSAs offer a “big box” and “small box” – talk with the farmer about what a typical share looks like. One of the great benefits of knowing the folks who grow your food, is that they can tell you all about it!
Pick up & delivery day
Where and when can you expect to pick up your CSA? Will you need to do pickups at the farm or is there a local drop spot? What day/time is the pickup? Will it work for your schedule?
Length of the season and contents of the share.
How many weeks does your CSA run? What can you expect to receive with the subscription? Does the share include value-added products? Value added products may come from the farmer themselves or partner farms/businesses who use local produce, meats or cheeses to create value-added items such as breads, jams, fermets, etc.
Ready to join a KC Food Circle CSA?
- Check out all the wonderful KC Food Circle members offering CSAs this year. See their Profiles
- Contact the KC Food Circle Member who offers the CSA program that best fits your needs. The farmer will be able to give you all the details about payment, pickup date/time/location and CSA contents.
- Pick up your share and start enjoying some amazing local food!
Looking for other ways to find local food?
Our Eat Local KC Map, to easily find restaurants, grocery stores, farmers markets, growers, and community partners all offering more of the delicious locally grown and raised food you love! See the Map
