Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a growing model of direct-marketing for farmers growing diversified crops. As a consumer/fan of local food, however, you might have some questions about getting involved. Learn more about Community Supported Agriculture below, and be sure to check out Field to Family’s CSA Guide to explore CSA options in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas.

What is Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA?

In the farming community, CSA stands for “Community Supported Agriculture.” In this model, customers make an upfront investment in a farm at the start of the season and receive a weekly share of the farm’s harvest in exchange.

How does the CSA model benefit farmers and customers?

CSA farmers benefit from the upfront capital they receive from members at the start of the season. These funds help them pay for seeds, compost, labor, rent and all their other expenses. The farmers know they have a reliable market for the food they’ve grown.

While there are many great reasons to purchase and consume local foods in general, joining a CSA has several additional benefits. CSA members can create personal connections with their farmers, see where their food is grown and become more active participants in their local food system. The nature of the weekly share means a CSA member’s diet will be full of seasonal variety and nutritious produce.

How long does a CSA “subscription” last?

CSAs are offered during every season of the year, though summer is by far the most popular, with fall not too far behind. Each farm sets its own CSA duration. That being said, a 16-week share from June through September is very common.

What does a CSA typically cost?

Joining a CSA requires an upfront investment of several hundred dollars. For a typical 16-week summer share in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area, this will often be $400-$500, or approximately $25-$30/week. Every farm sets its own price, however, so be sure to consult individual farm websites.

Some farms offer small or half-size shares for individuals or small families that cost less than their full-sized shares.

I’m interested in joining a CSA, but it is out of my budget. Are there any options to help low-income households access CSA subscriptions?

Because CSAs require a large upfront payment, they can be inaccessible to large segments of the community. Many of our farmers care deeply about food access and food justice, however, and provide options to help low-income community members join.

• Most farms provide low-cost shares to low-income members
• Some farms offer work-share options, in which a member can work on the farm a few hours a week to receive a reduced-cost CSA share
• Visiting a weekly farmstand or pop-up farm sale can allow you to create a connection with you food/farmer while making a la carte purchases to meet your budget
• The Veggie RX program, funded by MidwestOne Bank, provides free CSA shares from local farms to customers at several local food pantries.

What does a CSA in Iowa typically contain?

Iowa CSA shares are vegetable-heavy as a whole, though some seasonal fruit like melon or berries might be included. One notable exception is Buffalo Ridge Orchard, which offers an apple CSA in addition to vegetable shares. There are also flower CSAs in Iowa, which are not included in our CSA Guide at this time.

CSA farmers often team up with other farmers or local food producers to offer “add-ons” to their shares. Some farms might offer the option to add eggs, bread, beer, flowers or other local products to a CSA membership.

How will I use all that produce?

By eating with the seasons, trying new things and getting creative in the kitchen! Many farmers include recipes with their CSA shares or in weekly newsletter emails to members, which can provide additional ideas and support.

If your chosen farm does not offer a half- or small-size share but a full-size is too much, you might also consider splitting the share and cost with a friend or neighbor.

How do I join a CSA?

Each farm has a different sign-up process. Visiting a farm’s website will typically provide you with up-to-date information about CSA availability, as well as how to reserve a share.

How early should I sign up?

Farmers typically open up enrollment for the season annual in March. Watch for those announcements and sign up as soon as possible. Farms only have limited amount of shares available each season.

That being said, not every farm is on the same timeline. Explore our CSA Guide to learn more about CSA availability in the area.