Featured Image Credit: Joseph Fields Farm Market Facebook
Charleston’s Farmers Markets are fantastic places to get local produce and goods, they’re also just a nice way to spend the day. However, sometimes it’s not always possible to go to the farmers market. Maybe it’s closed for the season or maybe you spend your weekend doing other things. Where do you get local produce then? Luckily, the Charleston area has many farms that have markets or CSA programs. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. In a CSA you buy a share of the farm to pay for the raising of the crops and in return you get a fresh supply of local produce weekly or bi-monthly. Check out the following farms and their CSAs.
Joseph Fields Farm Market & CSA
Image Credit: Joseph Fields Farm Market Facebook
In addition to a farm market, Joseph Fields Farm on Johns Island has a CSA they run with the help of Charleston’s Earth Heart Growers Program. Children from partnering Montessori Schools help grow, harvest, and package food that is sent for twice-monthly deliveries to CSA members.
Rest Park Farm CSA by Pinckney’s Produce
Image Credit: Rest Park Farm CSA by Pinckney’s Produce Facebook
Opened in 2009, this CSA provides fresh local produce to members from Rest Park Farm through Pinckney’s Produce. Available in Spring, Summer and Fall, the CSA provides seasonal produce such as collards, turnips, lettuces, kale, cabbage, beans, onions, peppers, corn, tomatoes, strawberries and much more to its members.
Legare Farms CSA and Rolling Market
Image Credit: Legare Farms Facebook
Legare Farms has been running their CSA for more about 10 years and their members love what they get when joining. They have several pick up locations around the Charleston area and they are unique because a member of the Legare family or staff is at every pick up location to meet and get to know members and let them know what is going on at the farm. They pride themselves on forming relationships with their CSA members.
Thornhill Farm
Image Credit: Thornhill Farm Facebooke
This McClellanville, SC farm has a CSA and a special story. People with special needs from Charleston and Georgetown County middle schools, high schools, and other non-profit organizations are the ones who work the farm with therapeutic horticultural programming through the Adaptive Gardens at Thornhill Farm. The students are involved in the entire process from making potting mix to packaging produce and meat. They have a Meat Share as well.
Ambrose Family Farm CSA
Image Credit: Ambrose Family Farm CSA Facebook
This CSA has a plethora of pick up locations throughout the Lowcountry; choose to pick up your prepackaged share from James Island, Downtown Charleston, West Ashley South Windermere, and Mount Pleasant, Park Circle, and Summerville. Or if you want to pick up at the farm or Stono Market, you can build your own. There are options for yearly subscriptions or seasonal subscriptions.