A "Community Supported Agriculture," or CSA, program links farmers with the public.
By paying a certain amount to a farm at the beginning of a season, a person becomes a member or shareholder of the farm. That gets you a share of the season's harvest -- a weekly box of produce.
Farms offer different-sized shares. Boxes are typically delivered to dropoff locations, such as a farmers' market, for pickup.
Angelic Organics in Caledonia runs one of the state's largest CSAs, counting more than 1,350 shareholders who pay $380 for a 12-week season from August through October or $580 for a 20-week season from June through October.
Genesis Growers, a 34-acre farm in St. Anne, offers spring, summer and fall CSAs. For the June-through-October summer season, medium shares run $560, and large shares cost $720.
In 1990, there were an estimated 50 CSAs in the United States. Now, there are more than 1,500, according to Local Harvest, which keeps an online directory of local food sources.
To locate and sign up for a CSA in the Chicago area, go online to www.localharvest.org or www.familyfarmed.org.
Janet Rausa Fuller
