By Kate Madden
brCommunity Supported Agriculture, or CSA, refers to a farm that functions under an alternative farming system. A CSA is a local farm that directly provides consumers with fresh produce. The basis of a CSA is an agreement between farmers and consumers—consumers pledge to support a particular local farm for an entire season and in turn, farmers provide fresh quality produce weekly directly to the consumer. Consumers can be sure of where, how, and, most importantly, under what conditions their food was produced. Plus, CSAs lower the collective carbon footprint by eliminating many parts of the shipping and delivery process. Moreover, this arrangement is beneficial for all since the partnership is solidified. This green partnership results in local farmers with guaranteed customers. Farmers don’t have to worry about modifying their produce quality and ethical standards in order to compete economically with large factory farms.
brbrMembership rates vary and can be purchased in full or half shares.
A full share is when you are provided with fresh produce weekly for a whole season. Locally, full share costs range from $450-1662. A half share is when you are provided weekly produce for half of a season. Half share cost ranges from $120-542. Most CSAs require you to fill out an application for shares before a season begins. For your convenience, some CSAs even offer shares for purchase online. Contact the farm of your choice for specific application details. You may want to participate in more than one CSA since farms have different specialties. Browse the handpicked list of friendly farmers below...
Agriberry Farm and CSA, Hanover, VA
Pick-up Locations: Eastport Shopping Center and Bean Rush Café in Annapolis and Victoria’s Fancy Foods in SevernaPark
Season: May—September
Share Cost Range: $125-600
804-537-0448; Agriberry.com
brAgriberry Farm grows premium fruits and berries using safe, sustainable practices. The farm currently grows 18 varieties of raspberries and blackberries, as well as several types of nectarines and peaches.
Bear’s Honeypot, Gambrills
Pick-up Location: On-Site
brNo membership fee, Custom orders placed online
Share Cost Custom Pricing Varies
410-987-2418; Thebearshoneypot.com
brThis CSA Business hosts 30+ farms/producers including: Chesapeake Greens in Queen Anne’s County, Hummingbird Farms in Ridgley, Cedar Run Farm in Sudlersville, Baywater Greens in Salisbury, SB Farms in Hurlock, and more.
Blades Orchard, Federalsburg
Pick-up Location: Compromise Street, Annapolis
Season: June-September
Share Cost Range: $225-450
410-754-8857; Bladesorchard.com
brBlades Orchard is located in Federalsburg and has been a CSA for seven years. They specialize in fruits and vegetables, and are known for selling apples and peaches at local farmers markets. They provide a range of produce including blackberries, grapes, cucumbers, green beans, and zucchini.
Cabin Creek Heritage Farm, Upper Marlboro
Pick-up Location: On-site
Season: Year-round
Share Cost Range: $219-640
301-430-0170; Cabincreekheritagefarm.com
brCabin Creek Heritage Farm is a local CSA specializing in pork and beef shares. They also offer chicken, sausages, and fresh farm eggs as add-ons to their meat shares.
Clagett Farm, Upper Marlboro
Pick-up Location: On-site
Season: May—November
Share Cost: $640
301-627-4662; Clagettfarm.org
brClagett Farm is a mostly vegetable CSA located near the Patuxent River, and is a property of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. They specialize in strawberries, mulberries and encourage you to pick-your-own berries on-site. They also provide grass-fed beef.
The Farm at Our House, Brookville
Pick-up Location: Annapolis Fresh Farm Market, Sundays; 8 a.m.—12 p.m.
Season: May—November
Share Cost Starts at $136
202-412-5698; Thefarmatourhouse.com
brThe Farm at Our House offers a variety of vegetables from kale to sweet potatoes and specializes in organic eggs.
Garden Family Farm, Davidsonville
Pick-up Location: On-site
Season: May—October
Share Cost Range: $400-600
443-653- 5085; Gardenfamilyfarm.com
brGarden Family Farm is a local CSA harvesting fruit, vegetables, nuts, and mushrooms. They specialize in meat; goat, pork, rabbit, and turkey.
Groundworks Farm, Pittsville
Pick-up Location: Vin 909 Restaurant, Annapolis
Season: December-May
Share Cost Range: $120-1662
443-220-2338; Groundworksfarm.com
brGroundworks Farm is certified organic, and offers a very wide variety of CSA shares. They offer fruits and vegetable plans, as well as plans to include eggs, beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and artisan cheeses.
Homestead Farms Inc., Millington
Off-Site Pick-up Locations: Annapolis, Severna Park, Millersville, Odenton
Season: May-October
Share Cost Range: $391-541
410-490-7038; Freshorganicvegetables.com
brHomestead Farms Inc. is a certified organic farm located in Millington specializing in a large variety of organic vegetables including arugula, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, and edamame.
Jug Bay Market Garden, Upper Marlboro
Pick-up Location: On-site
Season: May—October
Contact directly for Share Cost information.
301-237-7538; Jugbaymarketgarden.com
brJug Bay Market is a multiple farm CSA that offers on-site pick-ups specializing in vegetables, herbs, cut flowers, and berries.
Radix Farm, Upper Marlboro
Pick-up Location: On-site
Season: May—November
Share Cost Range: $450-675
202-744-0373; Radixfarm.wordpress.com
brRadix farm is a local CSA focused on sustainability and organic practices. They specialize in various types of lettuce, herbs, and peppers.
The Zahradka Farm at Brown’s Cove
Pick-up Location: Severna Park Farmer’s Market, Saturdays; 9-11 a.m.
Season: June-April
Share Cost Range: $360-935
443-813-1591; Thezahradkafarm.com
brThe Zahradka family provides a variety of fresh produce to their consumers, with an emphasis on sustainability through compost and recycling. Produce includes onions, potatoes, radishes, spinach, sweet potatoes, and turnips.
brbr
Blades Orchard, Federalsburg
Pick-up Location: Easton Farmers Market Saturdays; 3—7 p.m.
Season: June—September
Share Cost Range: $225-450
410-754-8857; Bladesorchard.com
brBlades Orchard is located in Federalsburg and has been a CSA for seven years. They specialize in fruits and vegetables, and are known for selling apples and peaches at local farmers markets. They provide a range of produce including blackberries, grapes, cucumbers, green beans, and zucchini.
Colchester Farm, Galena
Pick-up Location: Chestertown Farmers’ Market, Saturdays, 8-10a.m.
Season: June-November
Share Cost Range: $365-800
443-282-1409; Colchesterfarm.org
brColchester Farm is a nonprofit, small-scale farm that grows fresh local produce for shareholders and community members. They specialize in vegetables and certain special items like herbs and hot peppers.
Emily’s Produce, Cambridge
Pick-up Locations: Cambridge, Centreville, Easton, St. Michaels Farmers’ Markets (Contact each market for hours of operation information)
Season: May-September
Share Cost Range: $300-600
443-521-0789; Emilysproduce.com
brVisitors can pick their own strawberries in the spring and pick pumpkins in the fall. Fruits include: black raspberries, honeydew, plums, red raspberries, and sweet cherries. Vegetables include: asparagus, corn, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, okra, peas, pumpkins, and squash.
Provident Organic Farm, Bivalve
Pick-up Location: Easton Farmers’ Market, Saturdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Season: April-December
Contact for Share Cost Pricing
410-873-2942; Providentorganicfarm.com
brProvident Organic Farm offers a variety of fruits and vegetables, which they offer at various farmers markets. They are known for their Roma tomatoes, which are available for sauce or canning.
brCommunity Supported Agriculture, or CSA, refers to a farm that functions under an alternative farming system. A CSA is a local farm that directly provides consumers with fresh produce. The basis of a CSA is an agreement between farmers and consumers—consumers pledge to support a particular local farm for an entire season and in turn, farmers provide fresh quality produce weekly directly to the consumer. Consumers can be sure of where, how, and, most importantly, under what conditions their food was produced. Plus, CSAs lower the collective carbon footprint by eliminating many parts of the shipping and delivery process. Moreover, this arrangement is beneficial for all since the partnership is solidified. This green partnership results in local farmers with guaranteed customers. Farmers don’t have to worry about modifying their produce quality and ethical standards in order to compete economically with large factory farms.
Anne Arundel County
Agriberry Farm and CSA, Hanover, VA
Pick-up Locations: Eastport Shopping Center and Bean Rush Café in Annapolis and Victoria’s Fancy Foods in SevernaPark
Season: May—September
Share Cost Range: $125-600
804-537-0448; Agriberry.com
brAgriberry Farm grows premium fruits and berries using safe, sustainable practices. The farm currently grows 18 varieties of raspberries and blackberries, as well as several types of nectarines and peaches.
Bear’s Honeypot, Gambrills
Pick-up Location: On-Site
brNo membership fee, Custom orders placed online
Share Cost Custom Pricing Varies
410-987-2418; Thebearshoneypot.com
brThis CSA Business hosts 30+ farms/producers including: Chesapeake Greens in Queen Anne’s County, Hummingbird Farms in Ridgley, Cedar Run Farm in Sudlersville, Baywater Greens in Salisbury, SB Farms in Hurlock, and more.
Blades Orchard, Federalsburg
Season: June-September
Share Cost Range: $225-450
410-754-8857; Bladesorchard.com
brBlades Orchard is located in Federalsburg and has been a CSA for seven years. They specialize in fruits and vegetables, and are known for selling apples and peaches at local farmers markets. They provide a range of produce including blackberries, grapes, cucumbers, green beans, and zucchini.
Cabin Creek Heritage Farm, Upper Marlboro
Pick-up Location: On-site
Season: Year-round
Share Cost Range: $219-640
301-430-0170; Cabincreekheritagefarm.com
brCabin Creek Heritage Farm is a local CSA specializing in pork and beef shares. They also offer chicken, sausages, and fresh farm eggs as add-ons to their meat shares.
Clagett Farm, Upper Marlboro
Pick-up Location: On-site
Season: May—November
Share Cost: $640
301-627-4662; Clagettfarm.org
brClagett Farm is a mostly vegetable CSA located near the Patuxent River, and is a property of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. They specialize in strawberries, mulberries and encourage you to pick-your-own berries on-site. They also provide grass-fed beef.
The Farm at Our House, Brookville
Pick-up Location: Annapolis Fresh Farm Market, Sundays; 8 a.m.—12 p.m.
Season: May—November
Share Cost Starts at $136
202-412-5698; Thefarmatourhouse.com
brThe Farm at Our House offers a variety of vegetables from kale to sweet potatoes and specializes in organic eggs.
Garden Family Farm, Davidsonville
Pick-up Location: On-site
Season: May—October
Share Cost Range: $400-600
443-653- 5085; Gardenfamilyfarm.com
brGarden Family Farm is a local CSA harvesting fruit, vegetables, nuts, and mushrooms. They specialize in meat; goat, pork, rabbit, and turkey.
Groundworks Farm, Pittsville
Pick-up Location: Vin 909 Restaurant, Annapolis
Season: December-May
Share Cost Range: $120-1662
443-220-2338; Groundworksfarm.com
brGroundworks Farm is certified organic, and offers a very wide variety of CSA shares. They offer fruits and vegetable plans, as well as plans to include eggs, beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and artisan cheeses.
Homestead Farms Inc., Millington
Off-Site Pick-up Locations: Annapolis, Severna Park, Millersville, Odenton
Season: May-October
Share Cost Range: $391-541
410-490-7038; Freshorganicvegetables.com
brHomestead Farms Inc. is a certified organic farm located in Millington specializing in a large variety of organic vegetables including arugula, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, and edamame.
Jug Bay Market Garden, Upper Marlboro
Pick-up Location: On-site
Season: May—October
Contact directly for Share Cost information.
301-237-7538; Jugbaymarketgarden.com
brJug Bay Market is a multiple farm CSA that offers on-site pick-ups specializing in vegetables, herbs, cut flowers, and berries.
Radix Farm, Upper Marlboro
Pick-up Location: On-site
Season: May—November
Share Cost Range: $450-675
202-744-0373; Radixfarm.wordpress.com
brRadix farm is a local CSA focused on sustainability and organic practices. They specialize in various types of lettuce, herbs, and peppers.
The Zahradka Farm at Brown’s Cove
Pick-up Location: Severna Park Farmer’s Market, Saturdays; 9-11 a.m.
Season: June-April
Share Cost Range: $360-935
443-813-1591; Thezahradkafarm.com
brThe Zahradka family provides a variety of fresh produce to their consumers, with an emphasis on sustainability through compost and recycling. Produce includes onions, potatoes, radishes, spinach, sweet potatoes, and turnips.
brbr
Eastern Shore
Blades Orchard, Federalsburg
Pick-up Location: Easton Farmers Market Saturdays; 3—7 p.m.
Season: June—September
Share Cost Range: $225-450
410-754-8857; Bladesorchard.com
brBlades Orchard is located in Federalsburg and has been a CSA for seven years. They specialize in fruits and vegetables, and are known for selling apples and peaches at local farmers markets. They provide a range of produce including blackberries, grapes, cucumbers, green beans, and zucchini.
Colchester Farm, Galena
Pick-up Location: Chestertown Farmers’ Market, Saturdays, 8-10a.m.
Season: June-November
Share Cost Range: $365-800
443-282-1409; Colchesterfarm.org
brColchester Farm is a nonprofit, small-scale farm that grows fresh local produce for shareholders and community members. They specialize in vegetables and certain special items like herbs and hot peppers.
Emily’s Produce, Cambridge
Pick-up Locations: Cambridge, Centreville, Easton, St. Michaels Farmers’ Markets (Contact each market for hours of operation information)
Season: May-September
Share Cost Range: $300-600
443-521-0789; Emilysproduce.com
brVisitors can pick their own strawberries in the spring and pick pumpkins in the fall. Fruits include: black raspberries, honeydew, plums, red raspberries, and sweet cherries. Vegetables include: asparagus, corn, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, okra, peas, pumpkins, and squash.
Provident Organic Farm, Bivalve
Pick-up Location: Easton Farmers’ Market, Saturdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Season: April-December
Contact for Share Cost Pricing
410-873-2942; Providentorganicfarm.com
brProvident Organic Farm offers a variety of fruits and vegetables, which they offer at various farmers markets. They are known for their Roma tomatoes, which are available for sauce or canning.
