3 reasons why you should buy produce from your local CSA

3 reasons why you should buy produce from your local CSA

(Africa Studio, Shutterstock)


Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — As early signs of spring return, dreams of sun-ripened tomatoes or homemade peach pie may waft across the mind. It’s not necessary to wait until summer for farm-fresh food, though.

Consumers now have many early season and year-round local food options available. Community supported agriculture (CSA) memberships are one way to enjoy an extended season of fresh produce and other foods direct from local farms.

What is a community-supported agriculture (CSA)?

Farmers offer a specific number of "shares" to the public, and these usually consist of a weekly box of produce or other products, according to localharvest.org. Consumers then purchase a "share", usually in the form of a membership or subscription, and receive a weekly box in return.

Typical CSA offerings include full- or half-shares of fresh produce from the farm with a variety of options for weekly or biweekly neighborhood pick up. Some CSAs even offer home or workplace delivery. CSA members will not only benefit from the nutritional value of produce, but they may also choose to opt-in for other fruit, egg, and even meat or other types of add-ons.

According to the Fairshare CSA Coalition, a CSA is more than "just a weekly delivery of food or food products. Community Supported Agriculture is a powerful investment in your health, community, and local economy.”

The national Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Day brings awareness to the growing number of farms offering CSA memberships. It’s also meant to inform the public of the benefits of connecting with local farmers and food growers through CSAs, as well as other direct-to-consumer opportunities.

Recent research shows that an increasing number of consumers are spending their dollars on memorable experiences instead of just purchasing more "stuff." This trend may be a factor in the growing number of individuals shopping directly from farmers at farmer’s markets, farm stands, as well as joining CSA programs.

In addition to increased access to fresh, nutritious foods, CSA memberships offer a variety other benefits such as convenience, exploration of new food choices, and even community connection. Here are three reasons you should consider joining.

1. Food chosen by local farmers just for you

It’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed at the grocery store given the ever-expanding number of food products available. When presented with too many choices, sometimes individuals default back to their old standard even if it’s not the most enjoyable or healthiest food choice. CSAs do the hard work for consumers —with a CSA share from a local farm produce is hand-selected for members.

The farmers choose the best produce to grow in their region and then harvest the freshest vegetables and fruits each week of the CSA season. It’s nice to know that the farmer is watching out for the freshness and quality of food in their CSA shares. The selection of foods can make it easier for consumers to confidently prepare flavorful and healthy meals based on that week’s CSA produce. Recipes and meal ideas may also be available within the CSA box or on the CSA website for the enjoyment of members.

2. Seasonal healthy eating surprises

Even if people eat healthy, they may become bored with their typical food choices. Community Supported Agriculture may help consumers explore healthy eating by making new food choices easier. As a CSA member, part of the experience often includes a sense of anticipation about what’s in the weekly or bi-weekly box. Consumers may be surprised by the beauty and variety of colorful produce or by a new type of vegetable they’ve never tried, for example.

With a CSA box members get a seasonal rotation of foods based on what’s most fresh at the time. Early season CSA shares will look quite different than those late summer boxes.

It’s the little touches of a CSA that may offer the most genuine surprise in today’s fast-food world. For example, consumers may notice the care taken to pack up CSA veggies for the reasonably short distance of travel to their neighborhood pick-up locations.

3. Community fresh from the farm

Picking up a CSA box builds community relationships one weekly harvest at a time. Shared pick-up locations offer a chance to see other CSA members and catch up on what’s new that week.

CSA members can share old family recipes featuring the weekly produce or new ideas on how to make this week’s vegetables even more flavorful. There may also be farm days specific for members to come together to pitch in on farm activities or to pick vegetables or fruits at the farm. These types of experiences can be great ways to create a connection with a food community.

Ultimately, it’s often local foods from the farm that have the deepest connection to family, community, and regional traditions during each season of the year. Community-supported agriculture is one way to keep these traditions, and local farmers, going strong in the years to come.

Find your local CSA


![Suzanne Lewis](http://img.ksl.com/slc/2582/258289/25828932\.jpg?filter=ksl/65x65)
About the Author: Suzanne Lewis -------------------------------

Suzanne is a registered dietitian nutritionist with degrees from Brown University and the University of Utah. For the past 10 years, Suzanne has developed and delivered nutrition and lifestyle behavior change programs to help individuals optimize their overall wellness. She is an avid trail runner and is working to complete her yoga teacher certification. You can read more from Suzanne at revitalnutrition.com.

- - - - - -

Editor’s Note: Anything in this article is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended, nor should it be interpreted, to (a) be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition; (b) create, and receipt of any information does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship. You should NOT rely upon any legal information or opinions provided herein. You should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel; and (c) create any kind of investment advisor or financial advisor relationship. You should NOT rely upon the financial and investment information or opinions provided herein. Any opinions, statements, services, offers, or other information or content expressed or made available are those of the respective author(s) or distributor(s) and not of KSL. KSL does not endorse nor is it responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, information, or statement made in this article. KSL expressly disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on the content of this article.

Related stories

Most recent Lifestyle stories

Related topics

Lifestyle

STAY IN THE KNOW

Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

KSL Weather Forecast