CSA is a relationship of mutual support and commitment between local farmers and community members who pay the farmer an annual membership fee to cover the production costs of the farm. In turn, members receive a weekly share of the harvest during the local growing season. The subscription/share system distributes the risk of farming - in a good year, members receive extra produce, and, in a bad year, everybody takes a small loss, rather than the farmer suffering the entire loss. In this way, CSA is a mechanism for helping sustain small local farms and farmers. Many CSAs also sell at farmers markets, roadside stands, or wholesale to local stores and restaurants.
External guides to choosing a local CSA:
- Eat local with a CSA
- Farms near Ann Arbor evolving to offer fall and winter CSA shares, Kim Bayers, October 2012
Details about local farms that do CSA:
- Adams Farms Market - farm in Clarklake
- Boxelder Acres - http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M7397
- Community Farm of Ann Arbor - pick up at the farm. $550-$950/yr. http://www.communityfarmofaa.org/ or http://www.localharvest.org/csadrops.jsp?id=8382
- Garden Patch Farm - pick up at the farm in Pinckney. $375-$600/yr. http://www.localharvest.org/csadrops.jsp?id=6850
- Garden Works - pick up at Farmer's Market or at the farm. $500/yr. http://www.localharvest.org/csadrops.jsp?id=5602
- Growing in Place Community Farm
- Needle-Lane Farms - pick up at Morgan and York
- Old Pine Farm CSA- Monthly mixed meat box program. $765/yr Chelsea Farmer's Market. http://www.localharvest.org
- Our Family Farm - Manchester-based farm; pick up at Farmer's Market or downtown Ypsilanti Farmer's Market. In addition to a vegetable CSA they also have a November-May chicken and egg CSA for 2008-2009; 15 doz eggs, 5 fryers $108, 30 doz eggs, 15 fryers $285.
- Tantre Farm - pick up at Farmer's Market, Chelsea Farmers Market, or at the farm. $600/yr, $575/yr to pick up at the farm. http://www.localharvest.org/csadrops.jsp?id=5684
- Vitale Farms CSA
- Two Creeks Organics - Manchester farm - pick up at Canton Farmers Market, Saline Farmers Market, or at the farm. $300.-$560./yr http://www.twocreeksorganics.com
- Zilke Vegetable Farm - Milan farm - pick up at Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Dundee Farmers Market, Ypsilanti Farmers Market, or at the farm. $300.-$450./yr http://www.ZilkeVegetableFarm.com or http://www.localharvest.org/csa/M32204
