Our family subscribes to a CSA, and we love not only supporting our local farms but getting great local produce to cook with. (Our kids might feel differently!)
By joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), consumers are given the opportunity to enjoy seasonal produce, narrowing the distance between farms and their kitchen tables. But there are many more advantages for both producers and customers involved in this type of program.
Here are some advantages that customers can reap from becoming members of CSAs:
- Get nutritious food that stays fresh longer: CSA produce is usually picked within hours or days of delivery, making it highly nutritious and long-lasting.
- Direct access to farmers: customers can inquire about the farming techniques and decide to buy from producers whose methods fit their values.
- Exploration of new food: CSAs offer what is plentiful and in season, which is a great way to explore new fruits and vegetables.
- Joining a community: Becoming a part of a CSA links buyers to other customers who share similar beliefs and allows them to take part in farm events.
Here are some CSA Farms you can join in Asheville:
Blazing Star Flowers
Pick up: Olivette CSA & Farm Store (Wednesdays 4-7 pm), SAHC Community Farm in Alexander (Thursdays 3-6 pm), Honey & the Hive in Weaverville (Thursdays 3-5:30 pm), River Arts District,
(Thursdays 3:30-7:30 pm), Karen Donatelli’s (Thursdays 3-5 pm).
This is a sustainable cut-flower farm and floral design studio providing beautiful blooms for customers in the Asheville area. Their services include CSA Flower Shares for a month or the season, custom designs for elopements, weddings, and special events, as well as on-farm workshops in floral design and gardening. You can also find flowers at farmer’s markets in the area.
Visit their website to order online or learn more about other products. Signing up for their CSA Flower Share is a wonderful way to bring a cheerful atmosphere to your home or office with seasonal bouquets. They also make a great gift for flower aficionados. Additionally, members of the CSA are invited to the farm to meet and explore where their flowers are grown.
Products
Dried, fresh, and edible flowers.
Fresh herbs
Christmas and floral wreaths, decorative, and plants
Encompass Farm
Pick up: East AVL Tailgate Market (East Asheville 3-6 pm Friday), Urban Orchard West (West Asheville 2-8 pm Thursday).
This farm is passionate about Beyond Organic practices, biodegradable packaging, and making seasonal eating simple. Their Custom Weekly Veggie Box is available year-round from various locations around AVL! You can customize your subscription, pause whenever you’d like, and even add on a flower subscription. With each box, you will receive meal ideas based on the produce it contains. They are dedicated to growing nutrient-rich staples and keeping the Veggie Box Program running all year. It is the most convenient way to get locally grown vegetables to your table!
Products
Dried and fresh flowers
Strawberries
Dried and fresh herbs
Sprouts
Vegetables: arugula, Asian greens, beets, broccoli, brussels sprout, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chiles, cucumber, daikon, dry beans, eggplant, garlic, green beans, green onions, hot peppers, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, microgreens, mustard greens, okra, onions, peas, pole beans, potatoes, pumpkins, radish, rutabagas, salad greens, salad mix, spinach, summer squash, sweet corn, sweet peppers, sweet potato, Swiss chard, tomatoes, and winter squash
Second Flora Microgreens
Delivery: Monday (between 7 am -7 pm)
This is a small urban farm that runs all year-round. They grow all their produce using sustainable, organic, and eco-friendly practices. Microgreens are a powerhouse of nutrition in a tiny package. Not only are they full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals, but they also have a low caloric content and boast anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, and anti-diabetic properties. In a study conducted by the University of Maryland, it was found that microgreens have up to forty times more nutrients than mature vegetables.
Their CSA runs for 10 weeks and you’ll get a weekly supply of salad blends, micro-herbs, and microgreens at your doorstep.
Products
Baby greens
Shoot blends: pea shoots, buckwheat, and sunflower
Salad blends: amaranth, swiss chard, beets, and purple radish
Microgreens: broccoli, arugula, kale, cabbage, tatsoi, and kohlrabi
Velvet Morning Farms
Pick up: Wednesday (3 pm – 6 pm): On the farm, Asheville City Market, and RAD.
To foster a feeling of unity between farmers and consumers, Velvet Farms are focused on making food production more transparent and accessible. They are committed to providing quality produce without the use of synthetic or chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides, instead opting for only OMRI-listed products. To ensure the land is respected and nourished, they use thoughtful tillage and incorporate organic matter regularly. As they strive to maintain the land’s integrity while cultivating nutrient-rich food, they are guided by the life and energy of the fields. Currently, the land is in the 3-year transition period to organic certification and to this end, they emphasize crop diversity, cover cropping, crop rotation, and drip irrigation.
Products
Vegetables: arugula, Asian greens, beets, broccoli, brussels sprout, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumber, dry beans, eggplant, garlic, green beans, green onions, hot peppers, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsnips, peas, pole beans, potatoes, pumpkins, radish, salad greens, salad mix, spinach, summer squash, sweet peppers, sweet potato, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, and winter squash
Thatchmore Farm
This is a multi-generational farm founded in 1987. It’s a certified organic farm that grows fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, Christmas trees, and hollies. From mid-April to mid-October, the CSA offers full shares for $500 and 1/2 shares for $250. This member-choice model allows customers to select their weekly share. CSA members will be the first to get the fresh blueberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. that the season has to offer.
Products
Hazelnuts
Teas and vinegar
Dried and fresh herbs
Fruits: apples, kiwis, pears, blueberries, and Asian pears
Speciality products: Christmas trees and wreaths, medicinal herbs and plants, salves, and landscape plants
Vegetables: arugula, Asian greens, beets, carrots, celery, collards, cucumber, dry beans, garlic, ginger, green onions, horseradish, hot peppers, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, onions, pole beans, radish, salad greens, salad mix, shallots, spinach, summer squash, sweet peppers, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turmeric, watercress, and winter squash
If you are local and care about diverting waste from our landfills, we would love to have you join our mission to make WNC a greener place to live.
Become a member today! https://compostavl.com/join