What’s a CSA you might be wondering? The acronym stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It’s a program that gets community members involved with farms.
[If you’re already familiar with CSAs, scroll down to read about our highlighted CSA programs. If you’re not already familiar, read on!]
Traditionally, community members would sign up for a farm share at the beginning of the season. This would provide farmers with early-season cash to buy seeds and other necessities to get the growing season started. Community members are then provided with a bounty of farm-fresh produce every week from the farm’s harvest (usually less at the beginning of the season and more later on).
This system connects farmer and community member in sharing both the risks and rewards of local food production. Risks: you never know what the weather will bring and how it will affect crop production. Rewards: fresh, local produce, the opportunity to try new foods or new varieties of produce, and a more personal connection to the farmer and local foodshed.
As the CSA marketplace has evolved, so have CSA programs. Many programs offer other experiences, such as on- or off-farm pickup, bi-weekly deliveries, pay-as-you-go, pick-your-own shares, winter season shares, or opportunities to participate in farm activities such as harvest days, outdoor meals, or even dance parties.
If you enjoy experimenting with new foods and recipes, want a healthy supply of local produce all summer long, and don’t particularly like to get up early on a Saturday morning to get to the farmers market – a CSA might be what you’re looking for!
Just as exciting, many CSA programs are starting to accept SNAP payments (SNAP was formerly known as the food stamp program). SNAP customers simply make installment payments from their Montana Access EBT cards each month during the summer.
If you enjoy experimenting with new foods and recipes, want a healthy supply of local produce all summer long, and don’t particularly like to get up early on a Saturday morning to get to the farmers market – a CSA might be what you’re looking for!
Here, we highlight three CSA programs that not only accept SNAP but are a part of the Double SNAP Dollars program – which means SNAP customers receive half-off a CSA share price, up to a $200 maximum. Just contact one of the friendly CSA coordinators/farmers to find out more information and see if their CSA is right for you!
Western Montana Growers Cooperative (WMGC) : WMGC headquarters is based in Missoula but is a collective of over 30 farmers, ranchers, and local food producers in Western Montana. Their CSA shares include vegetables and fruits from a number of their members’ farms, all who are either certified Organic or Homegrown (a local peer-certified alternative to organic certification).
Offerings: 26 weeks of fruits and vegetables in Full and Regular summer shares; Fall shares; Add-on shares including meat, cheese, milk, bread, coffee, eggs. Plus, they offer an opportunity to buy additional locally-grown products at discounted prices, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, cheese, milk, eggs, beef, pork, chickens, lentils, barley, honey, soap and more.
Price Points: $390 – $570, plus early bird discounts and payment plans; ($195 – $370 for produce shares for Double SNAP Customers!)
Pick-ups: Starting end of May; Thursday evenings in Missoula, Victor, Stevensville, Lolo, St. Ignatius, Polson, Ronan, Charlo, Dixon, and Arlee; Fridays in Butte and Helena
Contact: Amy: 406.544.6135 |csa@wmgcoop.com
Missoula Grain and Vegetable Company: Is a diversified vegetable farm located in Stevensville operated by Max, Kenny, and Katelyn. They’ve been farming for years, but have been settled on their land in Stevi since 2016 and became Organic-certified in 2017.
Offerings: 21 weeks of Vegetables in Quarter, Full, Large and Free Choice summer shares; Winter Shares
Price Points: $147 – $735, plus early bird discounts and payment plans; ($73.50 – $325 for produce shares for Double SNAP Customers!)
Pick-ups: Starting End of May; Saturday mornings at the Clark Fork Market in Missoula Stevensville Farmers Market, or Hamilton Farmers Market; Tuesday evenings at the Missoula Farmers Market
Contact: Max: 406.214.6664 (text or call)
Glacier Tilth Farm : Is a certified organic vegetable farm located in the small town of Dixon in the Jocko Valley of Northwest Montana. The farm is operated by Anna and Matthew, who have been farming for years and are in their second season of production on their leased land in Dixon.
Offerings: 20 weeks of Vegetables in Small or Full summer shares; Egg Shares
Price Points: $300 – $500, plus early bird discounts and payment plans; ($150 – $300 produce shares for Double SNAP Customers!)
Pick-ups: Starting mid-June; Friday evenings at the Mission Falls Market in St. Ignatius; Saturday mornings on the farm in Dixon; Tuesday evenings at Missoula Friends Meeting
Contact: Anna: 615.806.0714 | glaciertilthfarm@gmail.com
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