The city is abuzz with the first signs of spring, and farmers in the Hudson Valley are already hard at work sowing fields and growing seedlings in the greenhouse. It’s the ideal time to sign up for a New York City farmshare to guarantee yourself fresh produce and other goodies direct from the farm all season long.
What is a CSA?
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture—a model that connects local farmers directly with home cooks through a seasonal subscription model that supports small farms from the start. Members purchase a share of the harvest upfront, giving growers reliable early-season income and a committed customer base before peak planting and picking begin. In return, CSA members receive a weekly CSA box filled with fresh, seasonal products, from vegetables, fruit, and herbs to flowers, eggs, mushrooms, meat, dairy, grains, or curated combinations. With flexible share sizes, pickup options, and payment structures, a NYC farm share can work for many kinds of households, budgets, and cooking habits while strengthening the local food system.
Reasons to Sign Up for a CSA
“CSA share sales hit an all-time high during the pandemic; farms sold out and had large waiting lists in both 2020 and 2021, as people wanted guaranteed access to healthy food and a sense of community during a time of isolation and global supply chain disruptions,” says Kate Anstreicher, Associate Director of Regional Food Programs at the Glynwood Center. “Given the current uncertainty regarding the global supply chain and the cost of fuel/energy, it makes a lot of sense to choose local when you can. It keeps local businesses afloat, and also guarantees you access to local food regardless of how the geopolitical climate evolves over the coming months.”
In addition to fresh produce, flowers, mushrooms, herbs or whatever you choose for your weekly CSA box, many farmshare programs include extras like:
- Weekly CSA newsletters with each farm share box, including share contents, seasonal cooking tips, storage advice, and recipes
- Opportunities to visit a Hudson Valley farm, meet growers, and attend CSA farm events throughout the season
- Exclusive access to pick-your-own flowers, herbs, and crops at select Hudson Valley CSA farms
- Better value than shopping at the farmers market or buying organic produce at the grocery store, making a CSA share a cost-effective way to eat locally
- The health benefits of eating fresh, local, seasonal food all season long, with produce harvested at peak ripeness, flavor and nutrition
- Financial assistance, subsidies, and payment plans for households that cannot pay the full CSA share price upfront; many Hudson Valley CSA farms also accept SNAP benefits and offer a 50% discount through CSA is a SNAP
Brooklyn CSA Pick-Up
Below is a list of CSAs with pick-up in Brooklyn, compiled by the Hudson Valley CSA Coalition. Each listing specifies the share type (e.g. vegetables, dairy, flowers), the CSA pickup location, and whether the CSA is a Snap Farm Partner. You can also use the Coalition’s interactive farm search tool to filter by factors such as location, share type, and payment option. Their site also has useful resources like recipes for culinary inspiration, produce storage tips, flower care hacks, and more.
Angel Family Farm
CSA pickup location: Brooklyn
CSA type: Vegetables
Ayni Herb Farm
HV CSA pickup location: Hillsdale
NYC CSA pickup location: Brooklyn, Manhattan
CSA type: Medicinal Herbs
Brooklyn Grange
NYC CSA pickup location: Brooklyn
CSA type: Vegetables
Choy Division / Choy Commons
HV CSA pickup location: Chester
NYC CSA pickup location: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens
CSA type: Vegetables
Hearty Roots Community Farm
HV CSA pickup location: Clermont, Red Hook, Kingston, Rhinebeck, Woodstock
NYC CSA pickup location: Brooklyn, Manhattan
CSA type: Eggs, Meat, Vegetables
Liberty Farms
HV CSA pickup location: Ghent, White Plains, Croton-On-Hudson
NYC pickup location: Brooklyn
CSA type: Eggs, Meat, Vegetables
Teranga Flower Farm
Pickup location: Brooklyn
CSA type: Flowers
The Farm at Miller’s Crossing
HV CSA pickup location: Hudson
NYC CSA pickup location: Brooklyn
CSA type: Meat, Vegetables
