It is that time of year again! Time for green garlic, tender baby lettuces, spicy radishes and sweet carrots. Time to secure your annual CSA farm share membership.
I have been a member of the Oxbow Farms CSA for three years. I love establishing my commitment to a single farm early in the year and knowing my investment helps to plan their growing season. It is important to me to contribute to the regional food system, and I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of nourishing the organic farm, and then in turn, the farm nourishing those who sit around my table over the summer season.
I have put together the CSA options I found that deliver to Wallingford this summer season. In Seattle we are fortunate to have so many local options that I am sure I missed a few, but here are some to check out!
Farm Box Direct from Single Farm CSAs
Oxbow Farms
Oxbow Farms is located on 230 acres in Carnation, WA. In addition to a weekly vegetable box from their organic farm, they offer an optional fruit share in partnership with farms in the Okanagan, and even a honey or mushroom share. The farm share is curated each week, depending on what is freshest and ready to harvest. Members receive an email prior to delivery date with the box selections and related recipes, so you can plan your meals. Last year I received fava beans for the first time and enjoyed learning how to shuck them with my family. Blanched, drizzled with olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt, they were gobbled up almost immediately.
Nicole from the Oxbow team shared her vision with me in an email, “Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center is unique in that we are a non-profit organization with 3 core branches: Farm, Environmental Education, and Native Plants Nursery. Our mission is to inspire people to eat healthy, sustainably grown food and to steward our natural resources for future generations. When you become an Oxbow CSA member or enroll your kids in our summer camps, you’re making an investment that supports sustainable farming practices, conservation research, hunger relief efforts, connecting kids with nature, and so much more.”
This year the Wallingford pickup location is the Pagliacci Pizza on Stone Way, Thursdays.
COST: $30 per week
http://www.oxbow.org/farm/csa/
Helsing Junction Farm
Helsing Junction Farm is a 50 acre organic farm located in Independence Valley about 25 miles south of Olympia. The farm was founded in 1992, and in keeping the health and fertility of the soil in mind, they have grown to a large member base. Their website indicates that they also include recipes in their weekly box making it easy to whip up healthy and delicious meals with their produce. The sample boxes on the site include strawberries, arugula, Sungold cherry tomatoes and garlic scapes. Helsing Junction also has community service programs, such as their CSA food bank program in which they accept donations from members and match a delivery to families who rely on the food bank. Looking over their mission statements and share options makes me wish I could get two farm shares this season! Weekly pickup site in Wallingford on Thursdays on Latona.
COST: $28 – $43 per week
https://www.helsingjunctionfarms.com/
Local Roots Farm
Local Roots Farms is in their eleventh CSA farm share season. The produce is all grown on their 17 acre farm in Duvall, WA. They also offer a fresh egg add-on from Goose & Gander Farm. Their website indicates the egg shares are almost sold out! Local Roots have a delivery site anticipated on Tuesdays in Wallingford for the season, but they have not yet announced the specifics. Looking over their sample boxes, it looks like they have great variety!
COST: $22 – $27 per week
CSA as a Collection of Washington Farms
Growing Washington
Growing Washington is a collection of local farms in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. Options include a Farmer’s Choice box that delivers a curated box each week, or a premium Local Choice box where you choose your own weekly items. Both options come in a variety of sizes to best suit your needs. Delivery is on Thursdays to three host site options, Tangletown on N 57th Street, Central Wallingford on Densmore, and South Wallingford on 1st Ave NE.
COST: $18 – $49 per week
https://www.growingwashington.org/
CSA for a Good Cause
Seattle Tilth Alliance CSA
The Seattle Tilth Alliance CSA program supports new, immigrant and limited resource farmers through their Certified Organic agricultural education programs. The Tilth Alliance provides business training to immigrants, refugees, and new farmers in South King County. Your CSA subscription supports these opportunities in the Tilth Farm Incubator programs. The CSA also includes options for add-ons like eggs and flowers. Pickup at the Wallingford Farmers Market.
COST: $25 – $40 per week
http://www.seattletilth.org/about/stcsa
Fruit Share Only
Collins Family Orchard
Are you growing greens in your home garden and looking for farm share that offers a fruit only option? Collins Family Orchard a fourth generation family farm in Selah, WA provides a fruit only Farmer’s Choice box for home delivery, or you can choose to build a custom box at the Wallingford Farmers Market from their fresh organic market selection each week. Offer weekly or bi-weekly delivery options.
COST: $18 – $35 per week
http://collinsfamilyorchards.com/
Produce Delivery Sourced Beyond Washington State (more delivery service than a CSA)
New Roots Organics
Are you looking for pineapple or jalapeños in your produce delivery service? Strawberries in the winter? You will need to source produce outside of our state of Washington. Different than a traditional CSA that sources from an individual or collection of local farms, the New Roots Organics home delivery services sources fresh organic produce up and down the West Coast and Mexico to provide you a wide selection, and even that juicy pineapple from Hawaii. They offer have grocery item add-on options, and a juicing box.
COST: $32 – $42 per week
Full Circle Farms
Sources organic produce locally as the season allows, but will source organic produce outside of the local region in the cooler seasons. Their service allows you to make exceptions to their weekly curated box so you never get any item you don’t like.
COST: $24 – $49 per week
Pacific Coast Harvest
Pacific Coast Harvest offers a Pacific Coast box option or a Washington State Farmer’s box. They also offer fruit and veggie options. You can customize your box and include add-ons such as coffee, eggs and pasta. PCH offers Wallingford home delivery on Tuesday evenings.
COST: $28 – $45 per week
Other options to check out:
Skylight Farms
In the 2016 season, The Essential Baking Company was a host site for Skylight Farms CSA delivery, but I have been unable to confirm that they are continuing the delivery in the 2017 season. Skylight is a family owned farm in Snohomish. I will update if I hear back!
River Run Farm
Looking to enjoy a local microbrew when you pick up your farm fresh produce? How about an option to pick up at the Stoup Brewery in Ballard? Elizabeth from River Run Farms, a small scale farm on the Olympic Peninsula, reached out to us this year to let us know about their farm share program.
In her email Elizabeth says, “ We’re all committed to creating a community around good food and good living; bridging the gap between rural food-grower and urban food-eater. And supporting people in the city to get closer to their food and the people who grow it!”
Her words hit home for me and express the sentiment of why I personally invest in a CSA each year. So although they are not in Wallingford proper, maybe next year? I am going to keep my eye on River Run Farm as they are planning to bring the farm community feeling into Seattle with member potlucks and neighborhood events. In addition to the Stoup Brewery pickup, they do have host sites in Phinney Ridge and the University District. They offer 3 share commitment options and are priced around $30 per week.
http://riverrun.farm/farmshares-1
There is also a very local CityGrown that has a farmstand in Wallingford and offers CSA
https://citygrownseattle.com/
Saturday – Wallingford Farmstand (4108 Eastern Ave N)
from 10-2pm
Our family has been getting their produce for a couple of years. There veggies are always really fresh and tasty. People who run it are also very friendly.
Totally agree with Anna! CityGrown is terrific! What a great idea using city garden space to grow delicious crops!
Great information, thanks for this.
FYI I know Skylight and they won’t be delivering to Essential this year – they have decided not to offer CSA’s this year.
There are TWO MORE OPTIONS for CSA’s being delivered to ACADIA CAFE which is right across the street from Essential Bakery and in the base of the new TABLEAU building.
1. Choose CSA from SNOVALLEY FARMERS COOP here: https://www.barn2door.com/store/QZ1E3/sno-valley-farmer-s-co-op
2. All Summer watch for ‘out of the box’ farm food to buy from HOGSTEAD FARM including heritage pork aka #bacon, farm fresh eggs, tons of vegetables, sunflowers… https://www.barn2door.com/store/B3XaQ/hogstead
3. I have a humble little Urban Farm on Burke and 37th – and often am swimming in herbs, rhubarb, greens & vegetables. Will be for sale then on-porch pickup! Keep an eye out here: https://www.barn2door.com/store/836E9