The Lehigh Valley offers many unique CSAs, or farm subscriptions to choose from!
What is a CSA?
CSA or Community-Supported Agriculture is a subscription to a season’s worth of locally grown produce. Fresh, nutritious produce is provided to CSA members by a local farmer throughout the growing season. This arrangement helps farmers by increasing cash flow early in the season when seeds and equipment need to be purchased and farm labor needs to be paid and offers the subscriber, or you, many benefits as well!
The basics:
- You find a CSA farm near you that matches your values and purchase a share (also known as a membership or a subscription) in the farm’s harvest before the season begins
- In return, you receive a box of seasonal produce each week throughout the growing season. Shares are usually picked up at the farm, but many offer additional pick-up locations and/or home delivery.
As a CSA member, you make a seasonal commitment to a small farmer in your area. CSA members take pleasure in knowing where and how their food is grown, and typically have an open line of communication with their farmer. Many CSA farms actively teach their members how to use the food they receive each week giving you the opportunity to learn and grow as your food does.
Types & Add-Ons
When it comes to CSA boxes, it’s not one size fits all!
There are a variety styles and sizes to choose from:
🍓 Box Style (pre-made boxes to pick up with that weeks share of produce)
🍓 Market Style (BYO container to the farm and fill it up with that week’s freshly harvested produce- like box but you’re filling up your on container)
🍓 Market-Box Style (Choose what you want each week and your farmer will box up the farm fresh goodies for you)
🍓 CSA Card Style (pre-loaded weekly gift cards to use at the farmstand or farmers’ market for your favorite farm fresh goods)
Many farms offer different share sizes often broken down into:
- Full/Large Share– 8-12 fresh items/week (family size)
- Half/Small Share– 4-8 fresh items/week (good for personal use or to share with a partner/friend)
CSA shares usually contain vegetables, but many farmers also offer a diverse add-on selectio that makes CSAs even more convenient: fruit, eggs, homemade bread, meat, cheese, flowers or other farm products.
Be sure to check out each CSA farm’s information directly to learn more and see what size, style, and type best fits your lifestyle. And don’t be afraid to ask your farmer or us- We’re here to help!
Farm Shares & ASCs
(Agriculture Supporting Community) are similar to CSAs in that members receive a weekly box of produce. Farms Shares, however, are typically delivered to low-income neighborhoods, and members are allowed to pay for their shares weekly at pick-up. This makes fresh, local produce more accessible to people who may not be able to pay for the shares up front. SNAP benefits may also be used to pay for the weekly shares.
Join a Lehigh Valley CSA Today!
- Blackbird Farms, Emmaus, Pick-up(s) in Emmaus or Bethlehem
- Bleiler’s Produce Patch, Breinigsville, Pick-up(s) at farm or market(s)
- Clear Spring Farm, Easton, Pick-up(s) at farm
- Crooked Row Farm, Orefield, Pick-up(s) at farm store or in Bethlehem
- Hunter Hill CSA, Easton, Pick-up(s) at farm
- Josie Porter Farm, Stroudsburg, Farm Stand CSA Card
- My Little Farm Stand, Williams Township, Easton, more info coming soon!
- Patriot Farms, Lenhartsville, Pick-up(s) at farm and Emmaus Farmers’ Market
- Pieri Farm & Vineyard, Coopersburg, Pick-up(s) at farm & delivery options available
- Salvaterra’s Garden, Alburtis, Pick-up(s) at farm or Easton Farmers’ Market
- Taproot Farm, Shoemakersville, Pick-up(s) at many different locations
- Terra Fauna Farm, Northampton, Pick-up(s) at farm
- The Good Farm, Germansville, Pick-up(s) at farm and numerous Lehigh Valley locations
- Willow Haven Farm, New Tripoli, multiple pick-up locations & delivery options
- Dreamland Farmstead, Coopersburg, free choice weekly, at the farm
Specialty Farm Shares to Consider:
- Bubbly Hills Farm, The Seed Farm, Emmaus- 4 weeks of flowers
- Easton Wine Project– Club Membership. Members receive amazing benefits and 3 curated wines per season.
- Kromer Meats– Beef shares, Easton pick-up
- Monocacy Farm Project– Pick-Your-Own Membership
- Wholesome Food Farm– Beef shares, Alburtis pick-up
