Community-supported agriculture (CSAs) directly connects residents to farmers with fresh produce and meats. Not only can CSAs be an escape from dreaded trips to the grocery store, they also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and uplift local farmers through steady demand. Whether you’re looking for fresh veggies, fruits, or quality meats, here are some Northern Virgnia-area CSAs to consider.
Day Spring Farm
Day Spring Farm’s CSA is now available year-round on a month-to-month basis. Meat shares come in two sizes that each contain 1/3 chicken, pork, and beef. Each half share will have two packs of prime cuts (bacon and/or steak) and the rest a mixture of cuts. The veggie shares also come in two sizes. The half share contains six items and the full share is 12 items each week. The farm also offers shares for milk and eggs. Day Spring relocated to Augusta, West Virginia, but you can pick-up items at Fort Bacon Farm, located at 36258 Snickersville Tpk. in Purcellville, on Tuesday/Wednesday or Friday/Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The farm offers weekly pick-ups for veggies, milk, and eggs; the meat is monthly. Meat: monthly half-share is $175 and full-share is $342.50; Veggies: weekly half-share is $30 and full-share is $55.
Gathering Springs Farm
This Middleburg farm offers a 20-week vegetable program redeemable over 23 calendar weeks. The farm provides shareholders with seven to eight items per week from June through October. Add-ons are available for more variety, such as weekly fresh eggs, sourdough bread, artisan cheese, and artisanal mushrooms. Pick-up is available at the farm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as well as at locations in Reston, Leesburg and Haymarket. 22022 Sam Fred Rd., Middleburg, $700 for 20 weeks
Potomac Vegetable Farms
This organic farm operates its CSA in a cooperative partnership with more than 10 farms throughout Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland. As a result, it offers a wide variety of seasonal vegetable subscriptions that run weekly from May through November. Members can pick up their produce from two farm locations in Vienna and Purcellville or arrange for pick-up at a farmers’ market. 9627 Leesburg Pk., Vienna; 38369 John Wolford Rd., Purcellville; mini-share prices start at $416 biweekly
Second Spring Farm
If you love planning meals around what is available at the farmers’ market, this CSA may be perfect for you. It runs from June to early October, and shareholders receive six to eight vegetable items per week. Produce can be picked up at the farm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays or at a handful of local markets. 38205 John Wolford Rd., Purcellville, $489
Wegmeyer Farms
Wegmeyer Farms sticks to its specialties: strawberries and pumpkins. The farm offers two subscriptions: the first provides 10 pounds of strawberries per week for five weeks between May and June, while the other offers weekly strawberries and 100 pounds of pumpkins during the fall harvest. Shares can be picked up on Tuesdays from 4 to 7 p.m. or Wednesdays from noon to 2 p.m. 38299 Hughesville Rd., Hamilton; $275 for strawberries; $375 for strawberries and pumpkins
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
