Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2016. We have updated it to reflect current CSA offerings in Sonoma County.
In Sonoma County, the community supported agriculture (CSA) programs are thriving, but in order to keep subscribers coming back, farmers are providing more choices, including box sizes and delivery options.
That’s good news for consumers, who may be afraid of getting too much or wasting veggies they don’t like. Some farms will let you pick up a box every other week, while others let you trade out veggies at the farm.
There are also a growing number of meat and poultry CSAs, with options for folks who don’t have an extra freezer for that half cow share. A fruit farm membership also allows you to “pick your own” throughout the harvest season.
If you’re thinking about joining a CSA, it pays to do a little research to make sure you find one that fits your eating habits, lifestyle, budget and food philosophy.
The whole idea behind a CSA is to create a community of supporters who pay for shares of fresh food in advance. This model allows the farmers to nurture a closer connection to customers and ensure a steady market for their crops. For consumers, it provides peace of mind about food choices and perks such as potlucks and u-pick flowers.
Most of all, the CSA gives subscribers a strong connection to a family farm and the knowledge that they are keeping agriculture alive.
“Agriculture is not going to survive in Sonoma County if we don’t have the support of our residents,” said Jennifer Branham, co-owner of Laguna Farm in Sebastopol. “That’s the bottom line.”
Editor’s note: Laguna Farm ended its CSA program in 2021.
If you want to subscribe to a CSA, first make sure it is local. Some source from farms in the Central Valley or as far away as Mexico. That’s one of the reason Deborah Walton of Petaluma’s Canvas Ranch discontinued her CSA program.
“I tell people to always ask not who grew it, but where did it come out of the ground,” she said.
Most of the local family farms grow more or less the same seasonal produce and provide a weekly newsletter with recipes and tips. Choose a farm that’s close to your flight path. Then ask for a list of what has been provided in the past month. Consider what “add-ons” are available and whether the CSA operates year-round.
Most farms offer delivery to drop-off points, but some charge extra. If you do not have time to pick up a box, choose a farm that does home delivery.
Here is a list of a dozen CSA programs in the county, and what they offer:
Vegetable CSA Boxes
Open Field Farm, Petaluma: In 2012, Seth and Sarah James bought a former dairy on Spring Hill Road and turned it into a vegetable, berry, grain, egg and grass-fed Corriente beef farm that sells to CSA members only. Members enjoy u-pick flowers, herbs and vegetables on a “pay what you can, take what you need” model. There is a fun, celebratory atmosphere on pick-up days (Tuesday or Friday afternoons). Other membership benefits include monthly farm potlucks, summer barbecue, fall harvest festival and more. 2245 Spring Hill Road, Petaluma, 707-775-4644, openfieldfarm.com
Deep Roots Farm: The Penngrove farm tailors its year-round farm boxes with a diverse selection of hand-harvested produce. Farm boxes range from $35-$75, depending on size, and there are also flower and protein CSA boxes for a well-rounded farm haul. 7000 Petaluma Hill Road, Penngrove, sonomafarmfresh.com
Tierra Vegetables, Santa Rosa: This farm at Airport Boulevard is run by siblings Lee and Wayne James and is known for its giant veggies, dried beans, chiles and cornmeal. The weekly CSA goes year round, with one already cooked product offered during the winter. You can also purchase sauerkraut, pickles and other foods, along with Wise Acre eggs, at the farmstand. Pick up at the farm ($30 a week) to trade out veggies. For an extra fee, pick up at two sites close to downtown Santa Rosa. 651 Airport Blvd., Santa Rosa, 707-544-6141, tierravegetables.com
Singing Frogs Farm, Sebastopol: This farm behind Ragle Ranch is run by Paul and Elizabeth Kaiser, former Peace Corps volunteers who do international outreach about their no-tillage system of farming. The CSA offers a classic box ($32 per week) and family box ($40 per week). Most pick up boxes (no extra fee) at delivery spots in Santa Rosa, Sebastopol and Graton and can trade items there. Add-ons include eggs, olive oil and brown rice. Boxes available every Wednesday from May through November, and every-other-Wednesday from December through April. 1301 Ferguson Road, Sebastopol, singingfrogsfarm.com
Winter Sister Farm, Sebastopol: The small west county farm specializes in food for the “wet season,” meaning its winter/spring CSA runs from late November through mid-May. There are classic favorites as well as specialty crops, from potatoes and kale to dried beans and peppers. Choose from the free choice or farmer’s choice options for the CSA memberships. 1670 Cooper Road, Sebastopol, wintersisterfarm.com
Red H Farm: This 1.2-acre agroecological vegetable farm in Sebastopol has a Winter Nourishment CSA available from December through February. The winter CSA includes roughly $150 worth of produce, such as onions, garlic, leeks, beets, carrots, broccoli and much more. redhfarm.com
Meat and Poultry CSAs
Sonoma County Meat Co., Santa Rosa: This USDA- and state-inspected butcher shop run by Rian Rinn and Janine Alexander offers a monthly CSA available in 5-, 10- or 15-pound sizes. The meat medley boxes include Oak Ridge Angus beef, Mountain View Farms pork and Blakeman Ranch lamb (from $66.49 for monthly subscription). Other popular meat boxes include bacon, sausages, marinated meats, barbecue cuts and even a pet lovers box with meaty treats crafted for your furry friends. 35 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-521-0121, sonomacountymeatco.com
Tara Firma Farms, Petaluma: Tara Firma Farms, founded in 2009, delivers pasture raised beef, pork, chicken and lamb, as well as extras like organic veggies, fruit, cheese and eggs door to door on a weekly basis. Owned by Mark Squire and his family (of Good Earth Grocery Stores), they are dedicated to sustainable and environmentally friendly farming. For a minimum of $50, CSA subscribers can determine the frequency of delivery and curate their box, whether it’s a selection from one of their optional flat rate shares or à la carte from the abundant list of meats. Membership benefits include a 10% discount on all orders, free access to the farm and VIP access to community events. 3796 I St., Petaluma, 707-765-1202, tarafirmafarms.com
True Grass Farms, Valley Ford: This ranch, run by Guido Frosini and located near the Marin-Sonoma border, raises grass-fed and finished California Kobe beef, pastured lamb and pork. There are two CSA boxes to choose from, small and large ($75-$150), and each includes ground beef, roasts or braising cuts, beef sausage and a bag of bones (perfect for broths and stews). CSAs are available for pickup and delivery around the Bay Area truegrassfarms.com
Flower CSAs
Radical Family Farms: This Sebastopol farm specializes in Asian heritage vegetables and herbs, including Taiwan bok choy, Japanese long eggplant, Chinese long beans and Vietnamese coriander. In addition to the free CSA boxes the farm sends to seniors in San Francisco and Oakland (supported by tax deductible donations), Radical Family Farms has a flower CSA program featuring seasonal blooms such as sunflowers, marigolds, dahlias, zinnias and snapdragons. You can also find the farm at the year-round Sebastopol Farmers Market on Sundays. 707-210-2773, radicalfamilyfarms.com
Maci Martell contributed to this article.