A handy-dandy guide to Atlanta CSAs

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“We offer something for everybody,” says Brent Hall, owner of Freewheel Farm, which has a popular CSA program. “Many areas in Atlanta lack food access and are classified as food deserts. We are doing what we can to turn our urban landscape into a food oasis.”

A subscription is required for most CSA programs but commitments and offerings vary depending on the farm. Subscribing to a CSA can be an adventure that requires some creativity since nature is essentially doing your grocery shopping for you. “Eating food from a CSA is a true experience that challenges us to cook with what we have and exposes us to new types of veggies,” Hall explains. “But after tasting enough ripe heirloom tomatoes, you won’t want to go back to the out-of-season imposters anyway.”

There are dozens of CSA programs to choose from in Atlanta and they all offer a variety of fresh, healthy food choices for their customers. However, they do fill up quickly. Hall tells us that the CSA business is a collaborative one, not a competitive one. He and his farmer friends “share resources and knowledge with one another, and even refer customers to each other when their programs are full for the season. CSA is all about quality, freshness, nutrition, connection and community in an age where those things are so often lacking.”

As spring approaches, it’s a great time to sign up for a CSA of your own. Here, a handy-dandy guide to picking the right one for you. Be sure to check out the key at the bottom of this page for shorthand on which programs offer what.

No value assignedFreewheel Farm: A quintessential CSA from urban Atlanta farms offering over 75 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs to choose from and a program to make these items available to as many people as possible. A partnership with Wholesome Wave Georgia allows SNAP/EBT users to double the value of their purchases and subscribers can pick up groceries directly from the farm or Grant Park Farmers Market. They always have a waitlist so prompt registration is recommended. R*S*F*

Little Fox Farm: A family-owned farm and CSA in Douglasville, Georgia that prides itself on “working alongside nature, not against it.” They grow a variety of fruits and vegetables like scallions, cucumbers, green garlic, carrots and arugula. Members receive a bag of five to seven varieties of both fruits and vegetables. Little Fox Farm also allows subscribers to pick up their produce directly from the farm or from Freedom Farmers Market at the Carter Center on Saturdays. They offer flexible membership options that range from a 28-week commitment to a week to week and have a rolling application process. F*

2 Hill Farm: Formerly TaylOrganic, this CSA in Ellenwood, Georgia sells an assortment of other goods, such as jams and cider, in addition to their fresh produce. Top picks include strawberries, heirloom tomatoes, figs, lettuce and spinach. 2 Hill grows over 250 varieties of fruits and vegetables and keeps an extensive list of what’s available on a page called “What is this veggie?“ Newbies can register anytime of the year for ten weeks and pick up produce from the Decatur Farmers Market or Piedmont Park Green Market. P(E)*M* 

Global Growers: This farming nonprofit helps refugees monetize their farming skills, and has a great CSA to boot! They send out a weekly newsletter with recipes, cooking tips and information about what’s happening on their farms. Even non-subscribers can check out their website for tasty, healthy recipes like lemony zucchini goat cheese pizza. Global Growers offer a variety of seasonal produce including beans, parsley and kale, and some special items like bread and peanut butter. Subscribers can also access products like honey, cheese, coffee and eggs from partner producers, available for pick-up at Decatur Farmers Market and Freedom Farmers Market. R*S*D*P(E)*

No value assignedRise ‘N Shine: This CSA’s ”In the Kitchen“ webpage offers up a number of recipes organized by ingredients that may come in their CSA package. The strawberry link, for example, leads straight to a yummy looking dessert pizza. Located in Calhoun, Georgia, Rise ‘N Shine offers more than 40 different types of vegetables and fruits including sweet bell peppers, watermelon and squash. They also include items from other local farms to supplement their CSA shares like milled grits and cornmeal. Pick-up is available at the farm or in several places around Atlanta. R*

Wrecking Barn Farm: Offering bags packed full of fresh produce like eggplant, basil, blueberries and eggs, this 63-acre Loganville, Georgia CSA does more than just farm produce; they also send weekly recipe emails and host fun dinners on the farm for guests to enjoy. Subscribers can make a stop at the farm to pick up their share or grab their bag at Wrecking Bar Brewpub in Inman Park. R*P(E)*

Heritage Farms: This family-operated CSA in West Georgia specializes in raising grass-fed pigs and cows and following rotational grazing methods that benefit both the animals and the soil. In addition to their pastured meats, which include stew beef, steaks and bacon, they also include pastured eggs and a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Subscribers can pick up three to four pounds of local produce every week at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market. R*S*P*M*

Riverview Farms: Located in North Georgia, this CSA will deliver delicious fruits, vegetables and meats directly to your front door. Purists will appreciate their cyclical farming techniques and promise that all animals are “bred, born, and raised on the farm.” Riverview lets families choose whether they would like to subscribe to the meat CSA, the produce CSA, or both. In addition to pork and beef, they’re famous for popcorn, okra, melons and tomatoes. R*M* 

Farmer’s Fresh: Another CSA that offers multiple subscriptions. Customers can choose between their vegetable, meat, and cheese CSAs with a build-your-own option for customization. There is even a “Love/Hate List” where subscribers can pick items that they would prefer and not prefer in their delivery. Farmer’s Fresh’s year-round program has an ample amount of other foodstuffs to choose from including hard and soft cheeses, seafood and fresh milk. There are multiple drop-off points throughout metro Atlanta but they will also deliver straight to your door for a fee. D*P*M* 

Grant Wallace Farm: This one is primarily a CSA for meat alone but they do occasionally offer excess vegetables for those who are interested. Grant Wallace ships 20-pound boxes of pastured, premium proteins straight to your doorstep and all without a subscription. Exotic meats like water buffalo and alpaca make the list of items that can be included in the delivery or customers can make a trip to the Conyers farm where the owner, Grant Wallace, insists that people experience “an exclusive way to explore local food … in an intimate way.” P*M*

Know another great CSA that we missed? Add it to the comments section below!

KEY

R* - Recipes

S* - SNAP/EBT discount

D* - Dairy

P* (E)* - Poultry products(eggs only)

M* - Meat

F* - Flowers