Community-supported agriculture, or CSAs, offers a great and effective way to support local farmers while also putting farm-fresh produce on your table, writes Lillian Gerczyk for Philadelphia Magazine.

Out of the 18 Philadelphia-area farms and farmers offering CSA programs this spring and summer season, five are in Chester County.

Charlestown Farm in Phoenixville grows fresh and delicious produce all year long using sustainable farming methods. Shares start the first week of June and run until the week before Thanksgiving.

Down to Earth Harvest in Downingtown offers fully customizable flexible shares. The High-Season Farm Share starts May 15 and will run for 28 weeks.

Meanwhile, FarmerJawn Agriculture in Westtown features full home-based boxes that contain eight to ten items such as organic fruits and veggies, tea, and honey. The summer share will run from July 28 to Oct. 30.

Kimberton’s Sankanac CSA offers a vegetable share designed for a family of four. Shares are packed with vegetables, berries, flowers, and herbs and run from late May to November.

Woman-owned Vollmecke Farm & CSA in Coatesville offers fruit and vegetables in medium and large sizes. The CSA program starts in early June and runs for 22 weeks.

Read more about Chester County CSAs and others in the area in Philadelphia Magazine.

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