Local CSAs for the upcoming growing season.
by Abigail Dewire
Over the last two decades, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a reliable way of taking fresh produce straight from the farm to your plate. CSAs function on one idea–– interdependence. At the beginning of each growing season, customers purchase shares in the farm and in return receive a weekly box of farm fresh produce, fruits, and meats. Some farms offer customers the option of working minimal weekly hours in exchange for produce.
Time to Share!
Why should you join a CSA? There are many benefits aside from cost savings.
- Purchasing locally keeps money in the local economy.
- The fresh produce has more flavor, picked at peak ripeness and delivered immediately.
- Supporting area CSAs helps maintain the environment.
- Nutrients aren’t diminished waiting on a shelf; the produce goes from farm to table.
- You get an inside look at how your food is grown.
Simple idea, huge impact
Before big box grocery chains, people ate food produced locally. Today, people’s eating habits are moving back toward the idea of eating locally. CSA’s have created a reliable local source for delivery of fresh produce at an affordable price.
Bersee-Utz
Heirloom Farms
9220 Noward Rd., Waterville
Sign-up: Now-April 1
Dates: 18+ week season beginning around mid-June
Available produce/fruits: Small apple orchard, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, rhubarb, lettuce, chard, kale, onion, radishes, carrots, beets, turnips, kohlrabi, sweet corn, cabbage, pea-pods, cucumber, squash, broccoli, fall cauliflower, sweet potatoes, leeks, peppers, micro-greens and shoots.
Pick-up: Members can pick up at the farm or pay extra for delivery to their home(30 mile radius).
Miss a pick-up?: Delivery is offered.
Share sizes available: Full shares for $680 and half shares for $378.
Pre-packaged or mix and match: They offer trading and a farmers market Wednesday-Friday from 2-6pm and on Saturday from 10am-2pm.
Schooner Farms
14890 Otsego Pike
Weston(10 miles w of BG)
Sign-up: May 1st
Dates: First week of July for 14 weeks.
Available produce/fruits: Green beans, radishes, lettuce, spinach, beets, snow peas, carrots, basil, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, butternut squash, acorn squash, sweet corn, red raspberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, honey, dill, sage, parsley, and flowers.
Pick-up: At the farm.
Miss a pick-up?: Contact them and food will be set aside. Leftover food gets donated to local shelters.
Share sizes available: Family size ($500) and half size ($400).
Pre-packaged or mix and match: Market set up with 6-10 rotating crops each week.
Bittersweet Farms
12660 Archbold-Whitehouse Rd.,Whitehouse
Sign-Up: Anytime
Dates: Summer: June 28-August 25; Fall: August 30-October 27
Available produce/fruits: Cucumbers, tomatoes, pepper (variety of lunch box, hot, and bell), beans, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, onions, eggplant, zucchini, beets, mixed greens, spinach, and kale.
Pick-up: Tuesdays or Thursdays at Bittersweet Farms or Walt Churchill’s Market in Maumee
Miss a pick-up?: No vacation credit but they encourage people to let them know in advance and they will donate the extra produce to local food banks and food pantries or residents of Bittersweet Farms.
Share sizes available: Standard shares ($300) feeds 3+ more people or families, and Petite ($200) feeds 1-2 people. Those who purchase a share of the CSA help support employment for adults with autism.
Pre-packaged or mix and match: No buffet style. Members receive an email newsletter describing the box contents, preparation ideas and what farms the produce came from.
Jentzen Farms
7900 Dixon Rd., Monroe, MI
Sign-up: End of May but will accept until the start of the season.
Dates: First week of July and lasts 16 weeks.
Available produce/fruit: Over 28 varieties of herbs, heirloom tomatoes, and 15 varieties of peppers, cabbage, shallots, cabbage, broccoli, leek, spinach, and leaf lettuces.
Pick-up: Toledo Farmers Market, Monroe Farmers Market, Jentzen farms, Perrysburg Farmers Market, Port Clinton Miller Ferries for Put-in-Bay, and Harmony in Life of Sylvania.
Miss a pick-up?: Call 24 hours in advance for accommodations.
Share sizes available: Full Share 4-6 eaters ($400), half shares 2-3 eaters ($250), egg share ($60), and chicken share ($115). To work in exchange for food, contact Jentzen.
Pre-packaged or mix and match: Pre-packaged with no a la carte option.
Shared Legacy Farms
3701 S. Schultz Portage Rd., Elmore
Sign-Up: no set deadline, but shares fill up fast
Dates: Mid-June to Mid-October for an 18 week season
Available produce/fruits: Sweet carrots, lettuces, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, beets, garlic, watermelon, apples, berries, broccoli, chard, zucchini, eggplant, peppers, kale, and sweet potatoes.
Pick-up: Perrysburg, Toledo Farmers Market, Elmore (home farm), Port Clinton and Sylvania.
Miss a pick-up?: Food is given a window to pick-up. Any food not retrieved gets donated to local food pantries.
Share sizes available: Family size ($690), half family ($370), cheese share ($200), fruit share ($370), egg share ($82 per week/$41 every other), and coffee share ($226 every week, $113 every other).
Pre-packed or mix and match: Pre-packed but they also have trade boxes and add boxes for other crops.
Riehm Farms
7244 Ohio 53, Tiffin
Sign-up: Sign-up ends when shares run out.
Dates: Runs June to Oct.
Available produce/fruits: Tomatoes, zucchini, broccoli, carrots, green onions, radishes, cucumber, lettuce, herbs, summer squash, snap peas, bok choy, kale, sweet corn, kale potatoes, candy onion, eggplant, beets, beans, collards, sweet pepper, swiss chard, fall squash, pumpkins, kohlrabi, brussel sprouts, cabbage, winter squash, spinach, leeks, sweet potato, and cauliflower.
Pick-up: Available at the farm, Yark Automotive Group, Norwalk, Maumee–Arrowhead park, Promedica Toledo Children’s Hospital, University of Toledo, Bowling Green, Sylvania, Dana Holding Corp, Findlay, Perrysburg, and Tiffin.
Miss a pick-up?: Must arrive within time window of your location or the bag will be donated.
Share sizes available: Single veggie bag ($360), 2 veggie bags ($720), regular season fruit share ($80 or $160), late season fruit share ($65 or $130), egg share (½ dozen $38, full dozen $75, 18 count $113), and hamburger share ($72 or $144).
Pre-packaged or mix and match: Pre-packaged, but trade boxes are available.
