Want to join a CSA in Centre County? Here’s what to know

Friday is National CSA Sign-up Day, which begs the question — what exactly is a CSA?

The answer is relatively simple. Consumers (that’s you) support agriculture (your friendly neighborhood farmer) by purchasing a share of the season’s produce upfront. Each week, your portion of the harvest is set aside for pickup or home delivery.

Here are a few more things to keep in mind when debating whether signing up for a CSA is for you or your family.

It’s neighborly: Nell Hanssen of GroundWork Farms CSA and Buying Club in Millheim said that pre-purchased shares help farmers get the money they need for the season up front, which is handy when it comes time to buy things like fertilizer or other supplies. Thoughts of advertising can also recede into the background. “It frees you up to just focus on production,” Hanssen said.

You’ll feel closer to your food, too: Ethan Davis and his family run Strong Roots Organic Farm in Philipsburg. Davis enjoys the personalized nature of the CSA experience. “You get to know your farmer and where your food came from,” he said.

Consider your lifestyle: Hanssen is of the belief that CSA’s make the most sense for people who like to cook. If you’re eating out several times a week, then all that food (and money) is going out down the garbage disposal. On the upside, the financial investment might be enough motivation to squelch a few bad habits. “You’re kind of guaranteeing that you’re going to be eating healthy and local for the whole season,” Hanssen said.

It’s an opportunity to learn new recipes: If you’re not exactly sure what to do with some of the items in your basket, Davis suggests visiting Strong Roots’ Facebook page or other food related sites. “I try to encourage recipe sharing,” Davis said.

Your basket will change from season to season: As the weather changes so will the food your farm harvests. Hanssen looks at it as an opportunity for people to connect more deeply with their ecosystem. “It helps to be adventurous and like to try new things,” Hanssen said.

Take a good, hard look in the refrigerator: Some CSAs allow you to chose the breadth of your share. To ensure that good food isn’t going to waste, Hanssen suggests taking stock of how much produce and other farm fresh goodies you can eat without sending away for another stomach. “It’s good to figure out what your family can go through in a week,” Hanssen said.

Think before you chew: If food grown organically or without pesticides is important to you, then address those concerns up front. “You definitely want to ask those questions if you’re a customer and it’s important to you,” Hanssen said.

This story was originally published February 22, 2018 at 10:48 AM with the headline "Want to join a CSA in Centre County? Here’s what to know."