There is a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA) in the Bay Area to fit about anyone’s organic produce needs and budget, but it can be difficult to sort them out. This guide aims to simplify the choice by comparing some of the main deciding factors that go into choosing a CSA.
If you’re on a tight budget:
Most CSAs offer at least two different share sizes as well as seasonal shares (most common is a Winter and Summer share). If you’re on a tight budget or just looking to dip your toe into the world of CSA shares, consider those that offer shares with a shorter time commitment or trial membership.
Live Earth Farm: Small (2 people) size shares available for winter (10 weeks) for $300 and summer seasons (33 weeks) for $957. Budget (1 person) shares are available for summer only ($726).
Full Circle Farm: Offers a half size quarterly share for $175 (13 weeks).
Eating with the Seasons: Offers an Extra Small monthly or trial membership for $72 (4 weeks). Blue Moon Organics: Has a Small monthly share for $80 (4 weeks).
Mariquita Farm: “Half” shares available for $22/week with a four week minimum commitment. A full season of “half” shares (36 weeks) beginning in March is $752.
If you’re choosing based on delivery or pick-up area:
Live Earth Farm: This CSA offers pick-up from locations in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey county pick-up sites. No home delivery.
Full Circle Farm: This CSA offers pick-up from the farm in Sunnyvale, CA. No home delivery.
Eating with the Seasons: Offers home delivery or pick-up sites in the East Bay, South Bay, Peninsula and San Francisco, plus some corporate pick-up sites.
Blue Moon Organics: Pick-up sites in Santa Cruz, South Bay and San Francisco. No home delivery.
Mariquita Farm: San Francisco, Peninsula, South Bay, Corralitos, Morgan Hill and Gilroy pick-up sites. No home delivery.
If you’re choosing based on the contents of your CSA share:
Live Earth Farm: Farmer-chosen seasonal produce which varies from week to week. Often includes fruit. Winter share often includes preserves. Unwanted items can be gathered at pick-up site for donation to local women’s shelters. Their web shop offers a la carte items.
Full Circle Farm: Farmer-chosen seasonal produce which varies from week to week.
Eating with the Seasons: You choose your items from their list of available produce, preserves, meats, seeds, spices, etc.
Blue Moon Organics: Farmer-chosen seasonal produce which varies from week to week.
Mariquita Farm: Farmer-chosen seasonal produce which varies from week to week.
Special CSA features:
Live Earth Farm: Offers other shares like organic bread, eggs, preserves and extra fruit that can be picked up with the weekly produce share. Summer shares typically include weekly strawberries.
Full Circle Farm: Educational urban farm and farm stand.
Eating with the Seasons: Offers other memberships like eggs and strawberries, plus an a la carte menu of items you can add to your bag any week (meat, seeds, spices, oils, preserves, honey, coffee, tea)
Blue Moon Organics: Most weeks include at least one pint of strawberries
Mariquita Farm: Focus on growing heirloom varieties and also include fruit like strawberries and apples when in season.
An ongoing comparison matrix of CSAs local to San Jose, CA can be found here.
Comments