The hand-wringing over access to fresh food in Hartford need not be. Besides the year-round farmers’ market on Broad Street, there are daily farmers’ markets running for about half the year in various neighborhoods. Another way to secure fresh, healthy food is to become a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share-holder.
CSA has existed in the United States for a few decades now and presents a way for farmers to be paid upfront, allowing them to spend more of their time growing food and less of it worrying about marketing.
It’s not without risk. If crops fail or are stolen, share-holders will not receive refunds, though farmers have ways to alleviate the loss, sometimes by extending the growing season.
Consumers experience advantages like being able to actually speak with the person who grew the food. In an age when labels do not tell the whole story — organic in what way? — there is value in being able to ask direct questions about the growing practices.
Pre-paying for an entire season’s produce — and in some cases, other goods — means walking away with edibles that a person might not have known existed, like kohlrabi and tatsoi. This opens the door for children, especially, to develop a taste for foods that are more sophisticated than what’s on kiddie menus. Being able to walk around the farm teaches about agriculture in a way that can not be taught in school.
Paying a large sum upfront may seem prohibitive, particularly for those in lower income brackets. The Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association even says that “CSA is not about cheap food,” adding that “cheap food” is “usually neither nourishing nor grown with care of the environment in mind.” The organization says, “CSA is about each of us being responsible.”
But how does one be responsible when her pantry is more ramen than caviar?
Unlike dealing with a corporation that sells food (i.e. the supermarket), CSA farmers are present to negotiate with, and some already anticipate interest in shares from those who have less money to spend. Some farms offer workshares, which is what it sounds like: share-holders help out on the farm in exchange for food. Other farms might offer half shares or several shorter seasons. At least one CSA in the area uses a sliding scale, basing cost on share-holder’s income level.
There’s no shortage of CSA options in Connecticut. Here are some located in Hartford, just outside the city, and/or deliver to locations nearby:
Beckett Farms, LLC CSA
Where: Pick up at Whole Foods (50 Raymond Road, West Hartford) on Tuesdays from 4-7pm or at Beckett Farms (1269 Main Street, Glastonbury) on Mondays or Fridays from 4-7pm.
Cost: Half share for whole season, $400; Full share for whole season, $700. There are other options, including $185 for a half share during the summer season only.
Contact: Beckett family
Season: mid-May through early November
Types and Varieties: Uses Integrated Pest Management. Lemon basil, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, peaches, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, asparagus, rhubarb, eggplant, lettuce, Swiss chard, okra, broccoli, collard greens, red onions, beets, peas, beans, spinach, squash, and more.
HighlandArt Farm Whole Diet CSA
Where: Pick up on Mondays or Tuesdays at Auer Farm (158 Auer Farm Road, Bloomfield), or on Thursdays or Fridays at Beckett Farms (1269 Main Street, Glastonbury)
Cost: Varies by what you include in your share
Contact: Kelly Baker
Season: June-October, but with the possibility of a winter share to be determined
Types and Varieties: What makes this CSA different is that it offers more than fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. A meat share includes pastured pig and chicken; cows are grass-fed. Lamb, duck, fish, and goat meat may be included. They offer an egg share, dairy share (cow and goat milk, cheese, and yogurt), coffee share, and grain share (bread and granola). And, there is a fruit and vegetable share.
Holcomb Farm CSA
Where: Pick up at West Hartford Yoga (23 Brook Street, West Hartford) on Wednesdays from 1-4pm, 340 North Main Street, West Hartford from 4-8pm on Wednesdays, and at Holcomb Farm (111 Simsbury Road, West Granby) on Tuesdays, 2-6pm or Thursdays, 3-7pm, or Saturdays, 9-1.
Cost: $550 per share. This breaks down to $27.50 per week, 20 weeks. Holcomb Farm offers workshares.
Contact: Staff at Holcomb Farm
Season: June-October
Types and Varieties: Grown without chemicals. Arugula, spinach, broccoli, salad greens, carrots, watermelon, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, garlic, leeks, onions, cooking greens, fennel, kohlrabi, parsnips, Brussel sprouts, cucumbers, raspberries, beets, and more. Pick-your-own flowers, herbs, cherry tomatoes.
Serafina Says Farm
Where: Pick up at Billings Forge Farmers’ Market (Broad Street between Russ and Capitol, Hartford) on Thursdays from 11-2; or at Bristol’s Farm (541 Albany Turnpike, Canton) from 4-6pm on Wednesdays or Fridays. Those picking up in Hartford are invited to visit the farm. Tara Tranguch says she is planning to have an “open house” on the farm at some point when the season begins so that everyone can see where their food is growing.
Cost: $425 for an 18 week summer share. This breaks down to $23 and change per week. There are other types of shares, like one that offers wellness classes and another that is just wheatgrass.
Contact: Tara Tranguch
Season: mid-June through mid-October
Types and Varieties: Complies with Baystate Organic Certification guidelines and non-GMO. Mizuna, husk cherries, tomatillos, sweet and hot peppers, tatsoi, kale, microgreens, pea shoots, purple carrots, spinach, tomatoes, beets, turnips, potatoes, pasnips, radish beans, squash, peas, zucchini, cucumbers, arugula, onions, cabbage, broccoli, cilantro, and more.
Honorable Mentions
The two CSAs below are actually already sold out for the season, but are being listed because of their locations and for those who might want to follow up with individual farmers in case a share-holder backs out later.
Bright Yellow Farm
Where: 158 Auer Farm Road, Bloomfield on Wednesdays from 3-6pm.
Cost: $500 per share = $25/week for 20 weeks.
Contact: Caitlin Henzler
Season: May-October
Types and Varieties: Has signed CT NOFA Farmer’s Pledge. flowers, arugula, basil, green beans, chard, kale, spinach, beets, zucchini, broccoli, cabbage, winter squash, carrots, turnips, cucumbers, salad mixes, radishes, lettuce,onions, peas, peppers, potatoes, and heirloom, slicing, and cherry tomatoes.
Grow Hartford CSA
Where: 75 Laurel Street, Hartford on Thursdays from 4-6pm.
Cost: $30/week for twelve weeks. Low income shares are $75 for whole season
Contact: Rodger Phillips
Season: July 11-September 26
Types and Varieties: 150 varieties of organic vegetables, flowers, and herbs including kale, okra, scallions, potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, squash, cabbage, and tomatillos.
If you’ve had a CSA in past years, which one? What was that experience like for you and your family?