Eat Locally With Puget Sound-Area CSA’s

Joining a CSA is Great for the Environment and Your Health!

We all know that eating locally is great for the environment. We reduce the strain on the environment by shortening the length of time and the transportation resources it takes to get produce from the farm to our table.

We also know that eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables is good for our health. Community Supported Agriculture programs, commonly known as CSAs, help us accomplish both.

How Does It Work?

Families pay an annual fee in the spring or winter that entitles them to a “share” of the season’s upcoming harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick up a weekly box of local, in-season food items that may include fruits, vegetables, cheeses, eggs, honey, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. What you get depends on the CSA you sign up with, and each week’s delivery may vary as the year progresses and produce comes into season.

Some farms will include recipes and cooking tips that coincide with what’s included in that week’s delivery. This is especially helpful if you’re unfamiliar with a particular food item. Most CSAs offer various delivery box sizes and price points to accommodate households of various sizes. Each CSA will usually have a few pickup sites within its service area, so be sure to find one with a pickup location convenient for your home, work or school schedule.

It’s a good idea to check with each CSA directly before choosing one that fits your needs because each CSA works a bit differently.