Did you know that according to The WorldWatch Institute, the vast majority of produce travels over 1,500 miles from farm to plate and during the transport, it loses much of its nutrients, freshness and vitality?
Over the past few years, there has been an increasing amount of conversation about the benefits of Community Supported Agriculture, a partnership with a local farmer during the appropriate growing season(s). Once I began to research the concept, I found few online resources that listed Delaware CSA programs. After a few chats with local farmers and friends, I discovered that not only do Delaware CSAs exist, but people absolutely love the entire CSA experience.
Once you understand the history of Delaware and the attraction to CSAs, participating in a Delaware CSA is common sense. Forty percent of the state’s land use is still dedicated to the agriculture industry. Farming has flourished in Delaware due to its prime location and temperate climate since before the 1600s. To this day, the legacy has endured as a family business with 90% of farms listed as either sole or family proprietorship or family-owned corporations in Delaware
If you are interested in participating in a Delaware CSA program you can find the locations, websites, social networks and contact information of local farms that offer programs listed below. If I have missed one, please do not hesitate to let me know in the comments.
CSA Basics:
A CSA stands for “Community Supported Agriculture”, a program in which consumers can purchase produced directly from the farmer. People can purchase a “share” or “membership” from a specific farmer for a growing season. Every week during the season, members can pick up a unit of vegetables or other farm products such as eggs, bread, meat or fruit products depending on the particulars of that particular CSA subscription.
CSAs provide fresh, nutrient packed food directly from the farm, new produce varieties to try and a relationship with the local farmer that grows their food. Depending on the farmer and current crops, there will be a level of customization to what goes in your share.
New Castle County
Highland Orchards: Hockessin, Delaware
CSA Season: Year Round
Pickup locations: Hockessin, Wilmington, Pennsylvania, Newark, New Castle
Contact: Matt Linton, (302) 478-4042
A seasonal mix of a variety of CSA choices. Select from a mixture of vegetables, fruit, meat, honey, preserves, dairy, bread and live plants. Delivers in northern Delaware and the Philadelphia areas. Visit Highland Orchard’s website, or connect with them on Facebook.
Kranz Hill Farm: Newark, Delaware
CSA Season: May – October
Pickup Location: Newark
Contact: (302) 540-0912
Kranz Hill Farm CSA grows a wide variety of naturally grown vegetables and some kitchen herbs. Within certain limits, shareholders choose the contents of their share. The selection and quantity varies weekly, slowly and subtly following the changing seasons. Produce is usually distributed on the same day it is harvested. This contributes to the exceptional taste and wholesomeness of our food. Connect with Kranz Hill on Facebook.
Bayberry Farm: Middletown, Delaware
CSA Season: June – October
Pick up locations: Newark, Middletown, New Castle
Contact: Toby Hagerott, (302) 689-3010
Receive a seasonal mix of the finest local produce. Each week’s share will feature the vegetables that are currently ripe and ready for you on the farm or other local farms. Additional options such as bread and cheese shares are also available. Connect with Bayberry Farms on Facebook and Twitter.
Kent & Sussex County
Fifer Orchards: Camden-Wyoming
Pick up locations: Camden, Smyrna, Dover, Milford, Dewey Beach & Lewes.
CSA Season: May – September
Contact: Jessica (302) 697-2141
The Fifer’s CSA provides an adventure each week with new fruits and vegetable varieties that you might not find in the grocery store. In addition to produce shares, you can select free range brown eggs, local free range ground turkey or grass fed beef. Connect Fifer Orchards on Facebook, Google+, YouTube and Twitter.
Jubilee Back Forty: Milton, Delaware
CSA Season: May – October
Contact: Keith & Lisa Wilhelm (302) 542-9642
Pickup locations: Milton, Delivery Options Available
CSA members enjoy the first produce directly from the farm. Everything is guaranteed to be natural from a farm focused on ecological sustainability. Delivery options available. Connect with Jubilee Back Forty on Facebook.
Evans Farms: Bridgeville, Delaware
CSA Season: June-September
Contact: Katey Evans, (302) 245-5525
Pick up locations: Bridgeville, Milton, Milford, Georgetown
Each week members are greeted with boxes of freshly harvested, local produce for half the cost of what you would pay at the grocery store. Shares average one bushel of produce each week and feeds a household of three to five people. Other items that may be included in boxes during slow weeks include jarred items (jams, jellies, hand packed peaches, salad dressings, marinades, etc.). Connect with Evans Farms Produce on Facebook and Twitter.
Community Organics: Greenwood, Delaware
CSA Season: Year round
Contact: Tim and Aspen Bell, (302) 448-0800
Pickup Locations: Bethany, Greenwood, Dover, Georgetown, Lewes, Milford, Rehoboth
A naturally grown, full choice CSA where members can select what they want from our weekly availability list. Orders are filled before our products are offered to non-members or farmers markets.
TS Smith & Sons: Bridgeville, Delaware
CSA Season: May – November
Contact: Tom Smith, (302) 337-8271
Pickup Locations: Georgetown, Milford, Millville, Milton, Bridgeville
Members can select from three share options: summer, fall or full season. Shareholders can request items to be added into each week’s box and choose from a variety of pick up dates and locations. Connect with TS Smith & Sons on Facebook.
Woodland Harvest Farm: Seaford, Delaware
CSA Season: May – September
Contact: Ricky & Faith Robinson (302) 629-2686
Pick up location: Seaford
Woodland Harvest Farm and CSA is a small scale farm located west of Seaford, Delaware that provides a seasonal abundance of organically grown vegetables and herbs.
I hope that you have found this post on Delaware CSAs helpful and informational! If you have a favorite, local Delaware CSA, please let us know in the comments – if it is one I missed, I will update the list. You can also refer your favorite locally owned or operated organization for a featured post here.