By Blake Jackson
The Kentucky Farm Share Coalition (KFSC) is working to change how Kentuckians get their produce. The coalition connects consumers with local farmers through a community supported agriculture (CSA) program. CSAs allow members to subscribe to a weekly share of a farm's bounty, delivered fresh to their door or a convenient pickup location.
The KFSC believes that everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food, and its CSA program is designed to make that easier for Kentuckians. The coalition partners with eight farms across the state, all of which offer organic produce and have over three years of experience with CSA production.
CSAs offer a number of benefits for both consumers and farmers. For consumers, CSAs provide a convenient and affordable way to get fresh, local produce. Members can choose a share size that works for their household and budget, and they can be sure that their food is grown sustainably and ethically.
For farmers, CSAs provide a guaranteed market for their products and help to build relationships with their customers. CSAs also allow farmers to experiment with new crops and growing methods, and they can help to reduce food waste.
The KFSC CSA program is one of the ways that Kentuckians can support their local farmers and improve their own health and well-being. By joining a CSA, Kentuckians can gain access to fresh, nutritious food and support sustainable agriculture in their state.
How to sign up for a Kentucky farm share
To sign up for a Kentucky farm share, simply visit the KFSC website and select a farm from your area. You can then choose a share size and payment plan that works for you. Most farms offer weekly produce shares with items that are certified organic and 100% grown on-farm.
Once you have signed up for a CSA, you will receive weekly emails from your partner farm with reminders to customize your share, news from the farm, and recipes that use the week's produce. By joining a CSA, participants stay connected with how their food is produced and get to learn more about the farmers who grow it.
Benefits of joining a CSA
There are many benefits to joining a CSA, including:
- Access to fresh, local produce: CSA members receive weekly deliveries of fresh, seasonal produce from a local farm. This produce is often more nutritious and flavorful than produce that is shipped long distances.
- Support for local farmers: CSAs help to support local farmers and keep farmland in production.
- Reduced food waste: CSAs help to reduce food waste by connecting consumers directly with farmers.
- Education about food and farming: CSA members learn about where their food comes from and how it is grown.
- Community building: CSAs can help to build community by connecting members with each other and with the farmers who grow their food.
If you are looking for a way to get fresh, local produce and support sustainable agriculture, consider joining a CSA. The KFSC website makes it easy to find a CSA in your area and sign up for a share.
Get in touch with the KY Farm Share Coalition at kyfarmshare@oak-ky.org to learn more about CSA and how you can promote fresh foods as an employee health benefit.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-zbynek-pospisil
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables