eat local: Our guide to subscription farms.
HEADLINES TOUT ORGANICS as the fastest-growing sector in agriculture, but with high-volume stores like Wal-Mart and Target getting in on the game, demand is outpacing supply. It’s entirely likely that store shelves marked “organic” are filled with produce from industrial farms or China, Mexico, and other foreign sources, rather than the small-scale regional family farms the label conjures.
Along with farmers markets, the best way to support the little guy remains community-supported agriculture, or CSAs, through which you can buy a “share” in local independent farms. In exchange you get weekly deliveries of seasonal fruits and veggies throughout the summer and into the fall; orders typically range from half to three-quarters of a bushel. Most farms encourage members to volunteer on the premises as well, which is a good way to learn how your food is grown and develop an appreciation for how it gets to your dinner table. Some CSAs listed below are USDA-certified organic (or currently wending their way through the three-year certification process), but most use undocumented organic growing methods described as “sustainable.” Most don’t deliver directly to your home, instead using neighborhood drop-off points that include farmers markets, businesses, or private homes. (Neighborhoods are picked based on demand, so speak up if yours isn’t listed and maybe it will be.) Some farms that follow may augment their harvest with food from other producers; we’ve also included a few providers, like Home Grown Wisconsin, that consolidate products from multiple local sources.
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- eat local: Our guide to subscription farms.
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