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Washington State University Extension

Eat Local First

Meet Eat Local First, Win $100 & the Symbiotic Nature of CSA’s 

Eat Local First was created in response to the loud and clear message coming from consumers and farmers alike that the demand for local farm-fresh products has never been greater and that a need for a state-wide directory to support these connections was pressing. The result is that partners from around the state began working together to create a comprehensive online Washington Food & Farm Finder which continues to develop in breadth and scope.

 

The Eat Local First Collaborative is made up of regional partner organizations from around the state, including WSU Clallam County Extension, working together, steadily facilitating connections between consumers and farm/food businesses throughout Washington via one easy-to-use platform where you can search via zip code or town to find local goodness. Now this isn’t just farms, it is grocers, restaurants, farms and CSA’s.

 

What is a CSA?

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a direct approach to facilitating the connection between the consumer and the farm. CSA, or a ‘farm share’ is an arrangement between a farmer and consumer where you typically buy a “membership,” “subscription,” or “share” to/of a local farm in advance of the harvest season. The farmer uses the up-front funds for purchases needed at the beginning of the growing season. This gives the farmer funding and peace of mind because they now know they’ve already sold a portion of the harvest and then they deliver your weekly “share” of the harvest. 

 

This CSA model provides consumers with a deeper connection to their food and the people who grow it. The upfront purchasing experience creates a level of trust between the farmer and the consumer. Over the years, CSA’s tend to build a loyal customer base, in part growing from this annual trust-building exercise of investing in the coming year’s harvest. The experience results in a quality of “Community” that is magnetizing for the consumer and mutually beneficial for CSA customers and the farmer/s. 

 

Initially, CSA’s centered around produce, but the types of products you can get through CSAs has greatly expanded. Now the CSA sales model is used by a variety of small farms and local businesses. Currently within a 25 mile radius of Sequim, there are 34 businesses listed as CSA’s in the Eat Local First CSA Finder, these include locally raised meats, flowers, garlic, tea, vegetables and more. 

 

The security the CSA model provides the business owner, and the ability for the consumer to invest, or express their support for an endeavor upfront, meets needs on both sides. How we express our values for supporting ‘local” has a tremendous impact on small business owners’ stability and growth outlook. In the case of farms, the impact we are talking about ties closely with local food security, protecting farmland, while supporting and building a future for other farmers and their employees to live and work here. 

 

Sign up for a CSA through Eat Local First today and win 100$!

Now is the time of year to sign up for a CSA! And check out what other seasons are available as well.  You could plan a year of eating local while supporting CSA’s! Explore by clicking on this link and put in your zip code to see what is near you! Often returning CSA members sign up at the end of the previous season. It is good to move quickly on signing up because many vegetable and meat CSA’s have a limited number of shares available. We hope that the CSA Finder serves you well. 

 

Eat Local First will be choosing one lucky winner to receive a $100 credit toward the CSA farm share of their choosing in the state of Washington. To enter, fill out the form below by March 31, 2022. Winner will be contacted via email and announced via social media and Eat Local First e-newsletter. Check out the details here.

 

Please contact Lisa Vaughn the Extension Eat Local First Liaison at lisa.vaughn@wsu.edu with any questions or for support using the Finder

 

Links:

Eat Local First

Eat Local First CSA Finder

The Eat Local First CSA Finder has this great FAQ page 

Eat Local First Wholesale Finder

Links to other blog articles on ELF

 

 

 

 

Media Contacts

Lisa Bridge, Communications,