City Cast Pittsburgh's Sophia Lo, Laura Tsutsui, Francesca Dabecco, and Mallory Falk contributed to this article.
Eating farm fresh food can be good for you — and the local economy. Consider a subscription to these Pittsburgh-area community supported agriculture (CSA) shares to get a seasonal harvest straight from the source.
Wondering if a CSA will work for you? Here’s what to think about:
Pay now, relax later
Prepaying for months of farm-fresh goodies ensures our farmer neighbors have what they need to provide for their land, livestock, and whatever nature throws their way. And once you’re in, it’s magic: fewer grocery buying decisions, fewer impulse buys, and a steady stream of food you’ve already budgeted for.
- 🥬 Money tight? Split a share with friends, roommates, or neighbors. If you have more time than cash, consider workshare and volunteer programs like the ones with Grow Pittsburgh, Churchview Farms, and more. Or if you receive SNAP benefits, check out Just Harvest's Fresh Access Program for matching dollars at local farmers markets.
Let the farm surprise you
For most CSAs, farmers choose what you get. You're trading control for peak-season, just-picked bites that'll make your cooking even better. And if you like being nudged out of your routine (or finally learning what to do with kohlrabi), unfamiliar flavors can be a really fun culinary challenge.
Choose a pickup you won’t skip
Western PA is covered in farmland, and there are tons of places to retrieve your CSAs, like farmers markets and coffee shops. Look for providers that deliver to spots you already frequent on days you'll actually be there. The best CSA is the one that fits into your real life, not your aspirational one.
Find the size that fits your needs
CSA boxes can be generous. For a household of one or two, smaller or every-other-week shares usually hit the sweet spot, and you can often add on to your box week-to-week with additional produce, cheese, eggs, mushrooms, meat, soaps, flowers, syrups, herbal teas, and more. Find one that offers the right amount of the right kinds of food for you.
- 🥕 Try before you buy: Purchase a la carte from the be.wild.er farm store or get a one-time box from Isidore Foods for a taste of the CSA lifestyle without the season-long commitment.
Plan for travel and overflow
If you travel a lot or have vacations coming up, plan ahead. Some shares let you skip weeks. For those that don't, line someone up to pick up your box and drop it off in your fridge. Or better yet, think of your CSA as a tool to help build community and share the wealth with your friends, neighbors, and colleagues. We're betting someone will happily take that box off your hands!
Buy food that fits your values
You’re helping farmers cover upfront costs and sharing in the risk and reward of a growing season. You may also get an email or handwritten letter that tells you about the family's new swing set or the antics of a mischievous goat. There's something grounding about it. So yes, the food is fresher, but the connection is sometimes what matters most.
Find be.wild.er popping up at the Bloomfield Market. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Here are a few of our favorite CSAs:
- Harvest Valley Farm lets you select your items each week. A regular share comes with seven choices, and you'll grab your produce from the stand like you're shopping at a farmers market. Plus, their newsletters feature a vegetable of the week!
- Freedom Farms has CSAs for produce, dairy, and meat, but you'll need to act fast if you want one. You can also buy at their store in Butler.
- Dillner Family Farms offers fruits and vegetables. If you're a pickier eater, consider their "swap boxes," which let you trade items for others you like more. Tap into "Jane's Specials" for extra produce (sometimes a half bushel!), herbs, honey, and even fall decor.
- Dream Thyme Farm specializes in homemade goat milk soaps, medicinal and foraged plants and herbs, pastured pork and poultry, and more. Find Farmer Lynne at the Sewickley farmers market and through occasional CSAs.
- Tiny Seed Farm offers small and large options with up to a dozen varieties of vegetables each week, harvested within 24 hours of pickup. Make your table pop with subscription add-ons, like petite or full bloom flower bouquets or a local bread from Driftwood Oven.
- Blackberry Meadows Farm offers summer work shares and pickup at their farm in Natrona Heights. Get a half or whole share, plus a ton of sundry farm staples in their online shop.
- Who Cooks For You has three different share sizes and an abundance of add-ons (mushrooms! coffee! cheese!), plus the flexibility to opt out if you don’t like something or have an allergy. Pro-tip: Their gift cards come loaded with bonus money.
- Pittsburgh Pastures is a great option if you're looking for a standalone egg share or chicken. They sell whole and half chicken shares, and you can also get your chicken broken down into cuts for an additional charge.
- Sol Patch Garden grows hundreds of florals — peonies and ranunculus in the spring, cosmos and dahlias in the summer, and zinnias and mums in the fall. If you want a weekly bundle of blossoms, check out their Frequent Flyer Pass and pick up a new bouquet in Bloomfield.
