Community Supported Agriculture programs - or “CSAs” - are one of the best ways that you can eat local during Colorado’s harvest season. Farms that offer CSAs allow you to sign up in the spring for a portion of the whole harvest season’s produce from that farm. Usually structured around weekly or bi-weekly pickups, as a CSA member you’ll get a sampling of the farm’s harvest each week during the year.
Participating in a CSA is one of the best ways to support your local farming community. It allows the farms to have the upfront capital they need to fix equipment, buy seeds, hire employees and prepare the soil for this year’s harvest season. As a CSA member, you get to enjoy the best Colorado produce available, every week for the whole harvest season. You’ll be able to cook with seasonal ingredients from the summer through the fall. Finally, we love CSAs that offer events or educational opportunities that bring their CSA members together and help them understand more about the farms. A great CSA is more than just a great source of local food - it’s a tangible way to become an active contributor to your local food community. We are huge fans of the CSA concept - our team splits a large share every year, and a few of us sign up for shares on our own as well.
Much like our partner Farmers, we are "planting the seeds" to make this year's harvest season a successful one! As part of our efforts to connect you with the farms that we work with, what better way then to share which farms are taking CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) sign ups right now and where to find them.
Check 'em out!:
Ela Family Farms
Ela Family Farms is located on the Western Slope, but their fruit share CSA offers a great selection of seasonal fruits and is available (for purchase and CSA pick ups) at some of our favorite farmer’s markets across the Front Range. Ela also offers their shares as add-ons to many local veggie shares.
Fossil Creek Farms
Fossil Creek Farms is a small organic farm in Fort Collins with an excellent variety of produce. They offer 4 CSA sizes as well as a working share option. Here is a link to their FAQs to help answer questions you may have: http://www.fossilcreekfarmsllc.com/?page_id=13
Grant Family Farms
Grant Family Farms offers Colorado’s largest CSA with pickups all across the Front Range. They offer traditional produce CSAs with the option to include local meats, dairy and other local products each week. With year round service and lots of selection, this is a great option for a more customizable CSA.
Isabelle Farm
Isabelle Farm grows excellent organic produce on Isabelle Road by Lafayette. Their CSA offers a great balance of produce with plenty of delicious tomatoes, peppers and melons in addition to the usual selection of tasty greens and root veggies. CSA pickups are at their farm and at the Boulder Farmers Market!
Bonavida Growers
Bonavida growers, founded in 2009, is one of Boulder’s newest farmers. Tim Quinn founded Bonavida as a fully CSA focused farm. He grows excellent heirloom varieties of all kinds of delicious produce. See more information here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/BonaVida-growers/186441561390620
Ollin Farms
Ollin Farms is a very small grower based right near downtown Longmont. They grow an excellent selection of traditional and heirloom variety vegetables. If you sign up for pickup on their farm, you can usually pick up some of their farm fresh eggs, lamb, or homemade tamales as well.
Oxford Gardens
Oxford Gardens will give any farm in the state a run for their money for the best organic greens and root vegetables in the state. Expect hearty servings of greens, carrots, parsnips, turnips and all kinds of beautiful veggies grown with lots of love and care. Pick ups are at the Wednesday Boulder Farmers Market.
Red Wagon Organic Farm
Red Wagon Organic Farm grows over 100 varieties of vegetables and herbs. Throughout the season you will get up to 25 varieties of produce each week! Their goal is to find a balance between diversity and familiar foods that make people happy. They have 4 pick-up locations in Boulder, Boulder County and Lafayette.
So go ahead, and sign up for your CSA with a local farm, you won't regret it.