Craving Juicy Tomatoes and Fresh Strawberries? Sign up Now for a CSA!

MONROE, CT — Sick of the cold, snow and unseasonable weather? You're not alone.

If you want fresh, juicy heirloom tomatoes, berries and fresh picked produce this summer, now is the time to sign up for a CSA, said Ridgefield farm owner Dina Brewster.

A CSA, Community Supported Agriculture, is a way for consumers to buy local, fresh produce directly from a farmer in the community. Community Supported Agriculture eliminate the middleman,paying an up-front fee for the season, which helps cover production costs, according to CT NOFA, which lists some of the benefits:

• Membership in a CSA keeps your food dollars close to home

• You have access to the freshest, highest quality, usually organic produce for your family

• You have greater diversity in your food choices – this means new taste experiences from a large variety of vegetables and herbs

• You can make going to the CSA farm a learning experience for your kids – teaching where and how our food is grown, and who’s doing all the work

Dina Brewster owns The Hickories farm in Ridgefield which is the only USDA certified organic farm in the area.

"A lot of people aren't yet thinking yet about their August tomatoes but support for that starts now," Brewster told Patch. "This is a make or break us time for us. Not only because of the weather, but because our budget is set by the CSA shares we sell right now. I know if I have the ability to hire and train up new farmers which is a very important part of this place. We grow food but we also grow farmers."

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The Hickories saw their first sprouts of asparagus and rhubarb sticking out of the ground over the last two weeks and their greenhouse is bursting with fresh kale, scarlet kale, cilantro, broccoli and much more.

CT NOFA lists the following local farms that offer CSA shares:

The Hickories
Dina Brewster
136 Lounsbury Road
Ridgefield, CT 06877
203-894-1851
info@thehickories.org
CSA: see website for details

Laurel Glen Farm
247 Waverly Road
Shelton, CT 06484
203-305-9179
laurelglenfarm@gmail.com
CSA: See website for details

Simpaug Farms
Jennifer Trillo
Ridgefield, CT
203-431-7188
info@simpaugfarms.com
CSA: see website for details

Sport Hill Farm, LLC
Patti Popp
596 Sport Hill Road
Easton, CT 06612
farmgal596@yahoo.com
CSA: see website for details

Viv's Veggies at Chestnut Farm
Vivian Simons
27 Lyons Plain Road
Weston, CT 06883
203-221-8490
viviansimons@mac.com
CSA: May - November; contact for details

Anderson Acres Farm
1 Anderson Acres
Kent, CT 06757
Year-Round CSA
farmers@andersonacresfarm.com
CSA: see website for details

Fort Hill Farm
Paul Bucciaglia
18 Fort Hill Road
New Milford, CT
860-350-3158
pbucciaglia@yahoo.com
CSA: see website for details

Mayapple Hill Farm
Nick Pouder
228 Merryall Road
New Milford, CT 06776
860-799-7612
mayapplehillfarm@pouder.com
CSA: call or email for details

Sloane Farm
Debra Sloane
195 Old Litchfield Road
Washington CT 06793
860-619-0348
sloanefarm@gmail.com
CSA: see website for details

Click here to read more about Connecticut CSA shares.

Click here to see local farmers markets in your area.

Photos by Wendy Mitchell