What’s a CSA?

With warm thoughts of the summer farmstand…

It’s that time of year when local farmers across the country begin to offer their annual subscriptions to customers to purchase CSA shares. I thought I’d explain them a bit for the uninitiated. This will be our first year offering one on a larger scale (about 100). I’m looking forward to ’sharing’ and seeing customers on a weekly basis. We’re off to a good start having sold several dozen, however we still have a few available. You can  email me at for more information or call us at the store (859) 846-4155.

To find CSA programs in your area you can go to www.localharvest.org, an excellent site that covers the entire country.

A CSA, (for Community Supported Agriculture) is a way for members of the community to create a relationship with a local farmer and to receive a weekly basket of produce. By making a financial commitment to a farmer, people become "subscribers" or “shareholders” of the CSA. The majority of CSA farmers have members pay for the season up-front. Some CSAs (not this one!) also require that members work a small number of hours on the farm during the growing season.

A CSA season typically runs through the primary growing season, from late spring through early fall. CSAs have their roots in Europe and the UK and have grown by leaps and bounds in this country in the last 5 years.

Our baskets will include produce we grow on Honest Farm in Midway, as well as items grown for us by our Amish friends Sam and Ellen Mast in Lincoln County (the corn, melons and pumpkins we sell).

In addition to all the bounty, your weekly basket will also contain a newsletter and recipes for some of the seasonal produce in your basket (and there’s always extra recipes on our website).

How is the CSA good for farmers?

Most of farmers’ costs occur during the off season when there is little cash flow and a good deal of expenses for things like seeds, fertilizers, part-time help, boxes, permits, insurance, and other market needs. Many farmers are forced to take out loans or run up credit card debt in order to pay for these. Getting their money up front allows farmers to lower their overall costs and earn money free and clear during the season.

How is the CSA good for customers?

Customers end up paying much less for produce they’d buy at the supermarket or, at times, even the farmers market. You’ll also get the cream of the crop each week and CSA members have first dibs on things like asparagus, sugar snap peas, and the first heirloom tomatoes.

Joining a CSA will help you stick to your health goals by establishing a habit of buying a basket of local, sustainably raised fruits and vegetables to have on hand all the time.

Customers can feel good about establishing a relationship and supporting local farmers. Honest Farm subscribers will be supporting several farm families and help us continue our nonprofit mission of assisting local farmers. You’ll also be helping to protect farmland by keeping it in production while at the same time enjoying the healthiest and most delicious food available. (I imagine you will also save gas by not running to the supermarket twice a week).

Also, the food you get in your basket will be picked the day before or the same day you receive it. So there’s no way to really compare it to what you would buy at the supermarket.

When does the season start and end?

The first pickup will be Thursday, May 22nd through Thursday, October 2nd (20 weeks).

Typical baskets begin in spring with lettuces and cooking greens, radishes, spring onions, new potatoes, asparagus, and strawberries. Summer baskets overflow with corn, tomatoes, string beans, summer squash, peppers, chard, melons and berries. In early fall they’ll contain fall squashes, cooking greens, more tomatoes, herbs, apples and late season beans.

Some customers split shares with friends by dividing up their weekly baskets after pickup, or by alternating weeks. If you plan to do the latter just let us know who your partner is!

Regular, full share

The full share (about a 1/2 bushel) will feed a family of four to six or a vegetarian couple for a week. It contains a variety of vegetables in larger quantities than the half share. The full share also includes berries and melons in season in larger quantities. You also have the option of adding on a dozen eggs per week.

Half share

This share is adequate for a single vegetarian or 2 adults. It has the same variety offered in the full share, but smaller quantities. With a half share you have the option of a dozen or a 1/2 dozen eggs.

What about my summer vacation? The trip to Saratoga?…

You can have a friend or neighbor pick up your basket for you. This allows you to share your summer fruits and vegetables and will introduce them to the CSA experience. You can get credit on a future produce purchase at Honest Farm if you let us know one day in advance by calling or emailing us. For a half share, the credit would be $16; for a full share, $22. However, credits can only be extended twice during the season.

Please note: We’re sorry but if you don’t notify us we can’t provide credit on baskets not picked up. Or, if you wish, you can count the price of your share that week as a donation to the organization and we can provide you with a receipt.

What if I don’t like something in my basket?

When you pick up your basket we’ll have a swap basket of other items you can trade for. If you’re not into a variety of seasonal food, however, a subscription may not be for you.