We have something particularly exciting for our Winter Farmers’ Market in February: CSA Days! CSAs are a terrific way for you to strengthen and expand your connection to local food, seasonal produce, and especially, the people who grow it. In addition to our Winter Farmers’ Market with 40 farmers and food producers, a dozen farms with CSA shares available will be at the market on Saturday, January 9th, from 10am – 2pm at the Exeter High School.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is defined as a food production and distribution system that directly connects farmers and consumers. The term has become so well-used that CSA now also refers to an individual farm’s CSA program. Basically, consumers buy “shares” in a farm’s harvest in advance and receive regular allotments of food throughout the growing season. This way, farmers earn important early-season capital as well as a ready market and community of supporters. Shareholders join in the risks of the growing season but reap the benefits of the harvest, including field-fresh produce and greater access to high-demand fruits and vegetables, not to mention rare and heirloom varieties.
Each CSA has its own pricing structure and distribution schedule. Most require a seasonal buy-in and offer weekly pick-ups or even an option for location pick-up. Some programs offer flexible choice, farm stand shares, or add-ons such as meat, bread, or dairy. Many CSAs also offer farm visits, u-pick days, and other special events for members.
To find out which CSA is right for you, we’ve put together a list of questions to consider and ask farmers at the CSA Days, such as how much produce is in a share, what foods can be expected, and how many weeks the share is for. We also suggest checking out this website, which has other questions to consider when choosing the best CSA to suit your needs.
CSAs offer a steady supply of local food directly from the producers while creating a relationship of mutual support between farmer and eater. There are a lot of diverse options for pick-up locations, share structures, available foods, and farm involvement. Come to CSA Days to find the right option for you!
About the Location: Exeter High School is located at 315 Epping Road, Exeter, NH. Follow Route 101 to exit 9, then Route 27 west 1.8 miles. Here’s a map!
Market Highlights:
- Food of the day is SAUSAGE
- It’s CSA Day at the Market!
- Live music by Sandra Koski
- Food donations collected for the Community Food Pantry at the Pilgrim United Church in Brentwood
- Composting for all disposables — EcoMovement Consulting and Hauling will be helping us close the loop between food and soil fertility at our markets!
We are grateful for the generous support of our sponsors, who make the Winter Farmers’ Market possible — Exeter Hospital, our Exeter Market Underwriter; Veris Wealth Partners, our CSA Day Sponsor; Bikram Yoga and Farm Credit East, our Day Sponsors; and Northeast SARE — thank-you!
For more information: www.seacoasteatlocal.org