Community Supported Agriculture: Fresh, Local Food Straight From the Farm
CSA is reconnecting people with the farms that feed them — one share at a time. Learn what community supported agriculture is, how it works, and why thousands of people are choosing farm shares over the grocery store.
What Is Community Supported Agriculture?
Every year, thousands of local farms across the country open their doors to their communities through something called CSA — community supported agriculture.
The concept is straightforward. A farm offers a limited number of shares at the beginning of the growing season. People sign up for a farm share, and in return, they receive a weekly box of freshly harvested produce throughout the season.
There's no middleman. No distribution center. No cross-country truck ride. Just a short trip from the field to someone's kitchen table.
Community supported agriculture started in Japan in the 1960s, where it was known as "teikei" — roughly translated as "food with the farmer's face on it." The model made its way to Europe and landed in the United States in the mid-1980s, with the first American CSA programs launching in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 1986.
Today, there are over 7,000 CSA farms operating across the country according to the USDA — and the number keeps growing.
How Does CSA Work?
How Does a CSA Farm Share Work? Three Steps. That's It.
Step 1: A local farm opens up shares
At the start of the growing season, a local farm offers a set number of CSA memberships. Each share represents a portion of that season's harvest. Most farms begin sign-ups in late winter or early spring.
Step 2: The farm grows the food
Throughout the season, the farm plants, tends, and harvests crops on a rolling schedule — picking what's ripe and ready each week.
Step 3: Members receive a weekly produce box
Every week, CSA members receive a box of whatever was just harvested. Some farms deliver directly. Others set up community pickup locations. The produce is typically picked within 24 to 48 hours of reaching someone's hands.
That's the whole model. A farm grows food. People eat it. Everyone involved knows exactly where it came from.
Frequently Asked Questions About CSA
What does CSA stand for?
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It's a model where people purchase shares of a local farm's seasonal harvest and receive regular boxes of fresh, locally grown produce in return.
How much does a CSA farm share cost?
CSA costs vary by farm, region, and share size. A typical share for two to three people might run between $25 and $50 per week. Many farms offer different sizes — including individual and family shares — and some provide payment plans or accept SNAP benefits to make community supported agriculture more accessible.
Can I choose what's in my CSA box?
Generally, no. The contents of a CSA share are based on what's in season and what the farm harvested that week. Some farms offer limited customization or swap options, but the core idea of community supported agriculture is eating what the land produces.
How do I find a CSA near me?
LocalHarvest.org maintains the largest CSA directory in the United States. State departments of agriculture and local farmers markets are also good places to start. Most CSA farms begin enrollment in late winter or early spring, and popular shares often fill up quickly.