Get a jump on spring veggies by signing up for a CSA
Can’t make it to your local farmers market on weekends? You can still get fresh veggies from area farms by subscribing to a CSA. Short for Community Supported Agriculture, a CSA allows you to purchase a share of produce for a designated season (the spring season starts in April). That means you’ll receive a bag or box of field-fresh produce—whatever the farmer picks that week—each week for a specified amount of time.
You typically will have the choice between half-season and full-season shares, ensuring that the vegetables on your table are the freshest available. In spring you might find beets, Swiss chard, kale, cabbage, carrots, herb plants, lettuces, and strawberries; while summer brings tomatoes, garlic, blueberries, muscadines, squash, eggplant, peppers, and fresh herbs. Root vegetables, butternut squash, cabbage, kale, beets, carrots, and turnips herald the bounty of fall.
Here are a few places to start your CSA experience.
All of the farms listed are either certified organic or use eco-friendly (no pesticides) and sustainable farming methods. From May through October, you can also find BioWay, Growing Green, and Rabbit Crest farms at the TD Saturday Market in downtown Greenville.
Community Supported Agriculture Experiences
BioWay Farm – Chris Sermons grows a wide variety of vegetables on his 120-acre certified organic farm. His CSA offers 12-week spring/summer and summer/fall full and half shares for on- and off-farm pickup. 197 Bio Way, Ware Shoals, $300-$396, biowayfarm.com
Farm in the Wildwood – In addition to weekly bags of veggies and greens, a produce membership here includes exclusive offerings of special limited harvests like blueberries. Take your pick of 8, 12, or 24 bags during the season. 107 Collins Rd., Piedmont. $25-$38/week, farminthewildwood.com/subscriptions
Feed & Seed – Consider buying a Crop Box, a six-week subscription to local produce and products with an optional protein add-on from nonprofit food hub Feed & Seed. Pickup is on Thursday at Feed & Seed’s market at Judson Mill. 701 Easley Bridge Rd., Greenville, Ste. 6010, $390, feedandseedsc.com
Growing Green Family Farms – Well-known to area chefs, farmer Nathan Vannette offers pesticide-free produce from his farm in Anderson in small and large shares with several pickup options. 1023 Fennel Rd., Anderson, $164.70-$197.60, growinggreenfamilyfarms.com
Horseshoe Farm – Chris Miller goes beyond organic, practicing regenerative agriculture on his 21-acre plot in Travelers Rest. His 13-week spring CSA starts the first Wednesday in April with pick-up spots downtown. 650 McElhaney Rd., Travelers Rest, $384-$489, horseshoefarmsc.com
Mill Village Farms Food Share – Mill Village Farms’ produce distribution program makes fresh food accessible to everyone in Greenville County. Affordable boxes of local fruit and vegetables are available every other week from a host of different pick-up points. $20-$25/week, millvillagefarms.org/foodshare
