Community-supported agriculture has become increasingly popular as consumers desire more ways to eat local, get involved in their community, and support local farmers. The concept of CSAs originated in Japan in the 1960s after a group of women were concerned about pesticides in produce. The first CSA was formed in the U.S. in 1984.
The simplest definition of a CSA is a box of produce that you pick up from a farmer every week. Many of our local farms offer pickup at farmers markets around town, and in some cases, you can visit the farm itself. Several farms let folks order half-shares and include add-ons like milk, eggs, honey, or fresh-cut flowers. There’s even an all-beef CSA.
This is a great time to subscribe to one of our local CSAs before they sell out. Here are some of our faves.
Located in Bellevue, this family-owned farm offers produce in 7-week blocks, for those not ready to commit to a full 21-week season. The farm also welcomes strawberry and flower picking later in the year. Their early-bird discount on CSA boxes ends March 15.
I currently subscribe to Bells Bend, and I love picking it up on Saturday mornings at the Richland Park farmers market. (They’re also at the East Nashville market, or you can go straight to the farm.) Add-ons for grass-fed yogurt and gourmet mushrooms are available, and membership gets you free admission to farm events!
This nonprofit, which ensures leftover food from restaurants gets used in healthy meals for the community, also offers a veggie box that includes popular produce and herbs from Burma and Bhutan, thanks to the South Asian farmers at the Growing Together Farm in South Nashville.
Amazingly, this working farm is located in the heart of Inglewood in East Nashville, where it began in Alex Bice’s backyard after COVID-19 shut down his music career. They offer pickups at the Richland and East Nashville markets, the South Inglewood Community Center, and the farm itself.
This CSA offers heirloom fruits and veggies through a partnership with Golden Rule Farm, an old-order Mennonite farm in nearby Scottsville, Kentucky. They’ve got multiple pickup locations, and even offer home delivery in Davidson and Wilson Counties!
On top of seasonal organic produce, Caney Fork Farms also offers a regenerative meat share featuring 100% grass-fed beef and lamb, and pasture-raised pork and chicken. They also allow you to purchase per week, rather than per season.
