Bay Area Produce CSA Round-Up

The most rewarding thing about writing Farm and a Frying Pan is hearing that we’ve inspired somebody to take the plunge and sign up for a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box. It makes all the failed recipe attempts, crazy late nights trying to squeeze in time to write and re-taking out-of-focus photographs worth it. Because that means one more person in our community is supporting local farmers and sustainable farming practices, contributing to our local food economy and becoming a part of this important food movement.

People often ask Jillian and I what CSA to join. Since there are several farms to choose from in the Bay Area  – all offering different box sizes, varieties of veggies/fruits/dairy/meat/etc and delivery options – I thought I’d compile a list of some CSA’s available.  Let us know which CSA’s you like and why…and if you haven’t signed up yet, this easy-to-reference list should eliminate any excuses!

• Farm Fresh to You: Jillian and I both belong to FFTY, which is based in Capay, CA and has over 6,000 participants. They offer a wide variety of box options (fruits and veggies) and provide home delivery on weekly, bi-monthly or monthly basis. You can customize your delivery to exclude things you don’t like and and can cancel anytime if you realize that this isn’t the box for you. Plus, you can check online to see what your next box will include – helpful for meal planning – and even attend a farm tour to see where your food is grown!

• Terra Firma Farms: This CSA offers organic vegetables, fruits, and nuts grown in Solano and Yolo County (60 miles from the Bay Bridge). They have been in business for 17 years and accommodate about 1,500 CSA subscribers. They offer three box sizes – small, medium and large -  and have several pick up locations throughout the Bay Area  (meaning that you have to go to a centralized location for your box pick-up). TFF also supplies some Bay Area restaurants including Oliveto’s and Chez Panisse.

• EatWell: This CSA from Dixon, CA offers weekly and bi-weekly boxes, and they have numerous pick-up locations throughout the Bay Area. While you can’t customize boxes and it’s a one-size-fits-all box (10-13 items of produce, “a good amount of produce for a family of four who regularly cook meals and eat at home”) they do offer pastured eggs in addition to fruits and veggies.  Plus they offer overnight camping on the farm!

• Eating with the Seasons: A home delivery CSA made up of several growers from San Benito and Santa Cruz counties, they offer customizable boxes and four different membership sizes. In addition to organic produce, they also off herbs, olive oil, conserves, and grass-fed meat.

• Full Belly Farms: From Capay Valley, FBF is a certified organic farm with a CSA that delivers to pick-up sites in San Rafael, East Bay, South Bay, and Sacramento Area. Members can choose between weekly and bi-weekly pick-ups. For a small additional fee, Full Belly can also deliver right to someone’s door at selected locations in the East Bay.

• Two Small Farms: Two Small Farms is a collaboration between High Ground Organics and Mariquita Farms in Watsonville and Hollister. They supply produce to several big time Bay Area restaurants including Boulevard, A-16, Chez Panisse, Bar Jules, NOPA, Slanted Door and more! They are a seasonal CSA, so they don’t deliver produce from the end of November through the beginning of March, and you buy into the CSA program for the entire season and pay up front. If you want to try some of their produce before you commit, check out the Mariquita Farms’ farm stand at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market each Saturday.

• Oak Hill Farm: A small farm from Sonoma that supplies produce for several Sonoma restaurants including The Girl and the Fig and for San Francisco restaurants including Blue Barn, Umami, Mamacita and the Tipsy Pig. The offer weekly and bi-weekly boxes for pick up at Blue Barn in San Francisco’s Marina District.

Tagged as: CSA, Eating with the Seasons, EatWell, farm box, Farm Fresh to You, Full Bell Farms, Oak Hill Farm, organic produce, round up, seasonal, Terra Firma Farms, Two Small Farms