A Guide to CSA in Richmond

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in the Richmond area has as much variety as the produce these farms and collectives sell. For a customer, choosing a CSA can be as difficult and precarious as picking out the right chili for that new Thai recipe you’ve been dying to try. So, here’s a handy guide. For more information about the basics of CSA, go to localharvest.org/csa.

• Agriberry LLC is a single farm CSA offering its members shares of berries and fruits for weekly pick-up during the growing season (approximately 20 weeks from May to September). The 2010 full-season share price is $575 with 8 percent and 4 percent pre-season discount options available. To find out more about Agriberry, visit agriberry.com or call (804) 559-1791. 


• Ault’s Family Farm is a single farm CSA that offers its members pork, chicken, lamb and egg shares for monthly pick-up. There is a six-month summer cycle from June through November, followed by a six-month winter cycle. Customers must commit to a six-month share, but can pay monthly. There are large and small shares available, which range in cost from $54 (for an egg share) to $606 (for a large pork share). To find out more, visit aultsfamilyfarm.com or call (434) 248-6060.


• Avery’s Branch Farms is a single farm CSA that offers one-time shares of poultry, pork, beef and seasonal produce for order on its website to be picked up weekly at various drop sites. Cost will be determined at pick-up, depending on the size and nature of the order. Avery’s Branch Farms also offers cow shares, entitling members to one gallon of raw milk each week, available for pick-up at the farm or at various drop sites. Members make a one-time payment of $100 to buy a share in one of the Jersey cows for its lifetime. In addition, there is a monthly $35 boarding fee for the feeding and care of the cow. For more information, visit averysbranchfarms.com or call (804) 561-1930.


• Brookview Farm is a single farm CSA offering customers grass-fed beef shares. Customers can purchase a whole or half steer and then select the cuts they want. The buyer is responsible for all processing costs and picking up the beef. Prices vary. For more information, go to brookviewfarm.com or phone (804) 784-3131.


• Dominion Harvest is a CSA collective, which offers its members shares of seasonal produce for weekly or bi-weekly delivery during the growing season (May to December). Members can choose from a variety of boxes of various sizes and content. Prices range from a $37 box, which includes 10 to 11 types of produce to a $67 box, which includes 10 to 11 types of produce along with eggs, cheese, bread and meat. For more information, visit dominionharvest.com or call (804) 402-8481.


• Edible Old Dominion is a single farm CSA that offers members shares of seasonal produce for weekly pick-up during the growing season (May to November). Office delivery is available with a minimum of five members. Whole shares cost $500 and half shares cost $275. For more information, visit edibleolddominion.com.


• Epic Gardens is a single farm CSA offering members shares of seasonal produce as well as egg shares for weekly pick-up during the 20-week growing season. The basic vegetable share is $500 and the egg share is $60 for 12 dozen. For more information, go to epicgardens.com.


• Faith Farm Foods is a single farm CSA that offers members shares of eggs, grass fed beef, chicken, pork, honey, butter, cheese and noodles for weekly pick-up May through August. Shares work on a debit system and each week the amount of food purchased is deducted from the member’s share. Shares cost $350. For more information, visit faithfarmfoods.blogspot.com or call (434) 298-7178.


• Fall Line Farms is an online CSA collective, which offers members shares of produce, meats, and various other locally grown products for weekly pick-up. Fall Line Farms is not a farm share program. Customers shop online from the participating farms and pay only for the items they order that week. For more information, visit flf.luluslocalfood.com.


• Fertile Crescent Farm is a single farm CSA offering members shares of seasonal fruits and vegetables for weekly pick-up or delivery during the growing season (21 weeks from May to October). Members receive produce for 20 of those weeks, with one week of their choosing off). Whole shares for 20 weeks cost $500 and half shares cost $300. Delivery costs $50 for the entire season. For more information, visit fertilecrescentfarm.com or call (434) 392-6997.


• Frog Bottom Farm is a single farm CSA, which offers members shares of seasonal vegetables for weekly pick-up at the farm or at drop-sites during the growing season (26 weeks, from June to November). A full share for 26 weeks costs $650 and a half share costs $350. Pro-rated full-season memberships are also available, along with a one-month trial for $60. For more information, visit frogbottomfarm.com or call (434) 248-5525.


• Horse & Buggy Produce is a multi-farm CSA collective that offers members shares of seasonal produce, meats, fish, eggs and various other locally grown products for weekly or bi-weekly pick-up during the growing season (season lengths vary depending on the nature of the product). Prices vary depending on the size and contents of shares. One-time shares are available for order online. For more information, visit horseandbuggyproduce.com.


• Quail Spring Farm is a single farm CSA offering members shares of environmentally sustainable, seasonal vegetables and herbs for weekly pick-up during the growing season (20 weeks from May to October). Full shares cost $625 and half shares cost $325. For more information, call (540) 967-5196.


• Rural Virginia Market is a multi-farm CSA collective, which offers members shares of seasonal vegetables along with add-ons such as eggs, cheese, honey, chicken and pasta. Shares are available for weekly pick-up on a three-season schedule (six weeks in spring, beginning in May; 14 weeks in summer, beginning in June; six weeks in fall, beginning in September). Add-ons are available bi-weekly during each season. Full and half shares are available and range in cost from $110 (half share of produce in the spring season) to $472.50 (full share of produce during the summer season). For more information, visit ruralvirginiamarket.com or call (434) 842-3954.


• Victory Farms Inc. is a single farm CSA that offers members shares of seasonal fruits, vegetables and herbs for weekly pick-up during the growing season (20 weeks starting in April). Shares work on a debit system in which members pay $500 or $350 as a starting credit to be used at their own pace throughout the 20-week season. After members use up their credit or the season ends, they will receive 20 percent off all their purchases. For more information, go to victoryfarmsinc.com or call (804) 559-8833.

Liz Jewett is a freelance writer who was born and raised in Richmond. She spends a little too much time thinking about and eating cupcakes. To learn more about Liz, visit http://lizramsay.blogspot.com, follow her on Twitter @lizj843, or run into her wherever cupcakes are sold.