There’s nothing better than fresh-picked, seasonal produce. It tastes better, keeps you healthy and supports local farms. But sometimes it can be difficult to find the time to search out farm stands and plan your purchases around a busy schedule. That’s why Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs are a great solution.
These programs allow you to buy a “share” of a local farm upfront. In return, you’ll receive a box of fresh produce on a weekly, biweekly or monthly basis.
Since New Jersey is the Garden State, you’ll find a number of CSA programs in almost every county. Here are some of our favorites:
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Agrestic Acres
Location: 51 Lenape Lane, Great Meadows
Details: This CSA has year-round membership and functions like a “declining debit card” where you use your subscription to purchase virtually anything the farm offers, from pastured eggs to flowers, meat and honey. Pick up at the farm on weekends or at area farmer’s markets in Boonton and Oradell. Full, half and personal membership options are available, with discounts ranging from 5 to 8%.
More info: Visit the website or call 908-605-0041
Dreyer’s Farms
Location: 831 Springfield Avenue, Cranford
Details: Traditional box shares are available but this farm offers two notable options that stand out. One is the Market/Meal box, which provides everything you need for a complete meal (meat, dairy and grain) and the Pick-Your-Own Farm Club, a limited share that entitles you to create your own CSA. Though the deadline for their traditional CSA has passed, the Market/Meal and PYO options are available year-round.
More info: Visit the website or call 908-276-1290
Giamarese Farm & Orchards
Location: 155 Fresh Ponds Road, East Brunswick
Details: Giamarese Farm offers customers a prepaid CSA card that’s good from May to December. Load the amount of your choice and use it to shop at the farm for delicious fruit, fresh vegetables, greenhouse flowers, Thanksgiving pies and even Christmas trees! A wide selection of products are provided on a seasonal basis, subject to availability and weather.
More info: Visit the website or call 732-407-7488
Good Tree Farm of New Egypt
Location: 82 Jacobstown Road, New Egypt
Details: Local pick-up is available or have your CSA order shipped directly to your home, anywhere in New Jersey. Good Tree Farm allows customers to pay in full up front with three membership levels. Use up your balance throughout the season on various fruit, vegetables, herbs and dried crops. The CSA option grants members a 15% discount on the per-unit price.
More info: Visit the website
Honey Brook Organic Farm
Location: Chesterfield & Pennington pick-up sites
Details: This CSA program delivers boxed shares to locations throughout New Jersey, along with direct pick up from its farm locations in Pennington and Chesterfield. Honey Brook Organic Farm is the oldest certified organic CSA program in the state. Sizes range from a Personal-Sized box (3-5 lbs of produce) to Deluxe Boxes (12-22 lbs of produce). The season runs from mid-May to mid-November but you can also extend your share by joining the Holiday Harvest Program, which offers up squash and other cold weather crops through December.
More info: Visit the website or call 609-737-8899
Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm
Location: 2691 Monmouth Road, Jobstown
Details: Locust Hall offers large (feeds 4-6 people) or small (feeds 1-2 people) crate options, available for pick up weekly on Friday or Saturdays. As a bonus, CSA members receive free hayrides on the farm and access to a weekly mailing list. For meat lovers, Locust Hall also offers a grass-fed beef share, which features 25 pounds of frozen, individually-wrapped steaks, ground beef and roasts fresh from the farm.
More info: Visit the website or call 609-353-9000
School Lunch Organic Farm
Location: 69 Stephens State Park Road, Hackettstown
Details: School Lunch Farm & CSA is a 100% certified organic and GMO-free farm. Their growing season runs from late June through mid-November, with a variety of vegetables available weekly. Both full and half share options are offered. In addition to farm pick up, you can also choose from pick-up sites in Basking Ridge, Maplewood, Montville, Morristown and Secaucus.
More info: Visit the website or call 908-451-0051
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