Every week between June and October, some of our neighbors come to pick up a week's worth of vegetables through our Community Supported Agriculture program, or CSA. These systems have been around on American farms since the 1980's and are becoming more and more popular. There are lots of different permutations of the CSA. The basic idea is that the customer commits to buying produce from their local farm, paying all or some of the share price in advance. Then the customer receives produce throughout the growing season.

CSA's bring farmers and consumers closer together through shared risk and benefit. The customer assumes some of the risk in farming by paying in advance for a share of the harvest. If certain crops fail, the customer won't receive them. But losses in one crop are generally made up for with successes in another. One of the benefits of CSA membership is a guaranteed share of the best product the farm has to offer. The consumer also benefits from the CSA by gaining a sense of connection to the farm. Often CSA farms print regular newsletters, offer farm tours or variety tasting parties, or potluck dinners. Families with children often like CSA's for the farm experience offered to kids.

CSA's are good for farmers because they give us capital in the spring when we really need it for seeds and fertilizer and labor. CSA customers are also guaranteeing us a market for our product. Both the farmer and the customer benefit from keeping farmland in production, because the land remains open and scenic and free from development.

In the Jubilee Farm CSA, customers pay in advance for an 18-week season. Starting in June they come to the farm every Thursday afternoon to pick up the week's produce. They find the assortment laid out on big tables in the barn. Members weigh out allotted portions of beans, potatoes, squash, corn, lettuce, etc. etc. These customers get the very best of the harvest for the week. It is freshly picked and at its ripest.

If you live within easy driving distance of the farm and are interested in joining our CSA, click here.

If you don't live close to Jubilee Farm but want to know about CSA's in your area,click here.