CSA. Those three letters didn't have much meaning for me prior to arriving at Potomac Vegetable Farm located in Vienna, Va. To me, CSA was just another obscure acronym to shuffle around with all those other acronyms in the world of the IRS, PTA and MBAs.

 

But then it was explained to me: CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.

 

And after preparing countless bags of amazing-looking vegetables for the customers to pick up on a weekly basis while I worked at Potomac Vegetable Farm, I was hooked. Now, back in Wyoming where I live, I am a proud member of the Grant Family Farm CSA located just 70 miles south of Laramie. As a CSA member this past summer, each week I was supplied with a heaping box full of vegetables. And every Friday was a surprise (just like Christmas morning) to see what ingredients I would have at my cooking disposal.

 

I was so hooked in fact, our household is already signed up for Grant Family Farm's Summer 2010 CSA season.

 

So here's my tip...

 

Chances are, if there is a CSA available in your area, the farms offering this service are already accepting memberships for their farm shares.  And in some cases, those farm shares sell out fast!

 

 

So now is the time to start thinking about joining a farm CSA. Yes, you may have just been covered with over a foot of snow. Or yes, you may be living in an area still suffering from below-freezing nightly temperatures. But there's hope! If you haven't already noticed, the days are getting gradually longer and our local farms are already getting their planting schedules in order. And before we all know it, all those delicious vegetables we'll be eating mid-summer will be starting their lives as little iridescent, bright green sprouts full of life and vitality under the warmth and protection of greenhouses, hoop houses and high-tunnels.

 

The growing season is just around the corner so the time is now to consider signing up for a local CSA. Each one is different, depending on the farm, but one thing remains the same across the board. CSA offers a chance to enjoy super-fresh veggies picked at the peak of ripeness and the opportunity to experiment with those less-known produce types — like kohlrabi, turnips and rhubarb — often left on the grocery store shelves.

 

To find a CSA near you, check out this site!

 

You can also learn more about CSAs here!