CSA Glossary

For an additional cost, some farms offer eggs, meat, cheese, bread, mushrooms, fermented foods, flowers, honey, and other items.  Add-ons can be from the farm itself or from a partner farm.

All of our farmers are committed to sustainable growing practices, but some have also invested in certifications such as organic, biodynamic, certified naturally grown, and salmon safe.  And some raise livestock exclusively on pasture. Feel free to ask your farmer about their practices - they are happy to tell you all about them!

• Certified Organic: the food has been produced according to the USDA organic standards, and the farm has been inspected and certified by USDA-accredited certifiers. This means using natural fertilizers, eco-friendly pest control, no growth hormones or antibiotics, and no GMOs.

• Biodynamic: the farm is not only organic, but is designed to function as a holistic organism, incorporating biological diversity, generating fertility, controlling weeds, pests, and disease, conserving waterways, riparian zones, and integrating livestock according to the Demeter Farm Standard.

• Certified Naturally Grown: similar to organic, the farm does not use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicide, or GMOs. Instead of being certified by the USDA, CNG farmers rely on peer inspections, transparency, and direct relationships.

• Certified Salmon Safe: focuses on protecting Pacific salmon habitat by minimizing impact to water quality. Certified by Salmon-Safe, the rigorous assessment includes stormwater management, pesticide use, erosion control, and water conservation.

• Certified Sustainable Fishery: fishing practices have been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council to meet requirements for sustainable fishing such as environmental impact, and protecting fish populations and ecosystems.

From 10 weeks to 52, different farms offer different options for seasonal eating. A few distribute year round; some only operate during one or two seasons.

Instead of receiving a pre-packed box, Market Style CSAs allow you to select your own produce choice week to week, while still supporting your local farm.

Share sizes range greatly. How much food will you eat? Do you want your share to include all of your vegetables for the week, or to act as a supplement to your regular grocery shopping? Large shares generally feed 3-4 people, small shares 1-2 people.

Does the farm drop off shares at a place and time that is easy for you to get to on a weekly basis? If you're concerned about being able to make it to pick up your share each week, you may want to explore farms that offer home delivery.

A CSA that operates in early spring or late fall, outside the peak growing months. These shares often include storage crops, hardy greens, and produce grown in a hoophouse, greenhouse, or "caterpillar tunnel”.

Some farms offer sliding scale or tiered pricing to make CSA shares more accessible. Sometimes members with higher incomes pay more, helping to subsidize shares for lower-income households.

Offered by some farms during the colder months, winter CSAs feature storage vegetables like potatoes and squash, winter greens, and sometimes preserved goods like sauerkraut or dried herbs.