RVA likes to mash up, collaborate, and find mutually beneficial relationships in the startups that we support. It comes as no surprise that Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) continues to thrive in the River City where the bond between local farmers and the community is growing.
From strawberries to sugar snap peas and everything in between, a CSA is an alternative, locally-based economic model to agriculture. Made up of a network of farmers and individuals from the community, members of a CSA work together to grow, harvest, and distribute good, clean food to members and shareholders who pre-pay for an allotment of fresh produce. It is important that the right steps are being taken to ensure this food being grown is done in the best possible way for fruitful production, this may mean using supplies and equipment specific to the agricultural community. For instance, people may not know that wire cloth is used to help with crop protection, planters, tree guards, sifting soil, the list goes on, that is why they will look at businesses similar to newarkwire.com which is a leader in the wire cloth industry, as well as others, to help them out with these necessities. Building on the connection between the community and the farmers is important for the agricultural industry.
The growth of CSA options here in Greater Richmond is representative of the increased numbers and size of CSAs across the country. The result: A stronger consumer-producer relationship has formed. And best of all, the food we’re consuming in Greater Richmond is getting tastier and tastier.
But how do you know which CSA to choose, how many people a “box” or “share” can actually feed, what to expect weekly, and where to pick up the increasing bounty of local options?
To help, we’ve rounded up a snapshot of several popular CSA options in the region. While certainly not an exhaustive listing, the sampling of farms below observes sustainable and educated farming practices, such as eliminating the use of pesticides or chemicals, herbicides, fungicides, or chemical fertilizers.
Amy’s Garden
Among the first to champion community supported agriculture in Richmond and surrounding areas. Around since 2003, Amy’s still runs a “bulk” pay program for $550. This share is solely vegetables, fruit, and fresh flowers (for an additional charge).
Season: 16 weeks, $34/week, mid-May through mid-August, mid-September through mid-October
Example box: Strawberries, kale, cabbage, radishes, lettuces, pak choi Feeds: Easily two people all week with vegetable-heavy meals
Markets/Pick-up: South of the James Market, Byrd House Market
Crumptown Farm
Crumptown is a boutique CSA with only 50 available shares for the season. They specialize in heirloom vegetables and produce. Shares are available year-round for $675, just spring and summer for $375, and a mini/trial share for $225.
Season: 25 weeks, $15/week, mid-May through October
Example box: Asparagus, beets, broccoli, cabbage, greens, kale/collards, leeks, lettuce (head), lettuce (mix), onions (bunching), peas (snow and snap), radishes, strawberries spinach, turnips
Feeds: Full share feeds two voraciously
Market/Pick-up: South of the James Market/Lakeside Farmers Market
Lar-Lyn Farms
In Dillwyn, Virginia, Lar-Lyn Farms has used a “farmscription” model since 2011 as an alternative to CSA. Working with Virginia State University and Virginia Tech, Lar-Lyn Farm thought up a better way to offer a convenient and reasonable option that offered more flexibility and choices-from plan sizes to local produce selection. The model is laid out in quantities based on consumption: small, medium, and large.
Season: 20 weeks, $18/week, April through September
Feeds: Medium share feeds one to two people
Market/Pickup: West End Farmers Market
Origins Farm
Based in Hanover, Origins Farm CSA is unique and flexible, boasting two share options: $600 or $300. Pay the total of your shares upfront and simply pick up produce from their booth at Byrd House Farmers Market or St. Stephen’s Farmers Market during their CSA season
(May-December). For those who like to select their own produce, Origins Farm also allows members to use a CSA card to shop at will while keeping track of their balance and debiting their account each time a purchase is made at a market.
Season: 30 weeks
Market/Pick-up: Byrd House Farmers Market and St. Stephen’s Farmers Market
Red-Gate Farm
Located in Blackstone, Redgate was started in 2010 selling to Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market. Shares are available as a spring/summer share: full share for $525 and a half-share for $400.
Season: 22 weeks, $23/week, June through October
Example box: Collards, kale, cabbage, mustard greens, beets, spinach, carrots, turnips, radish, leeks
Feeds: One to two people
Market/Pick-up: Lakeside Farmers
Tomten Farm
Another boutique CSA located in Green Bay, Virginia, Tomten offers 40 shares for the season. Shares are available as a spring-summer share (17 weeks), a fall share (10 weeks), a full season share (27 weeks), and a full season work share (27 weeks).
Season: 27 weeks, $22/week, May through November,
Example box: Napa cabbage, radish, carrots, salad mix, cilantro, scallions, varying greens, snap peas
Feeds: Easily feeds 2+ people
Market/Pick-up: Byrd House Farmers Market, South of the James Market
The Farm Bus from Farm to Family
Community supported agriculture from several different local farms in and around Richmond. The Farm Bus compiles and curates shares weekly for a cost of $912. Farms include: Prospect Farm and Mt. Vernon Farm.
Season: 24 weeks, $38/week, prorated plans available, May
through October
Example box: Basil, carrots, kale, swiss chard, beets, mushrooms, onions, several bags of lettuces, peppers
Feeds: Two to three people, extremely generously
Markets/Pick-up: Farm-to-Family Market in Mechanicsville
Victory Farms
Victory is a debit system. Essentially, you pay $500 up front and are able to “spend it through the season.” You have access to the available produce at the farmer’s markets. Once you spend your “credit,” you receive produce at 10 percent off for the remainder of the season.
Season: 25 weeks, mid-May through mid-October
Markets/Pick-up: South of the James Market and Carytown Farmers Market