CSA PROGRAM

You may not have heard of a CSA. CSA stands for Consumer Supported Agriculture. Now you’re probably asking yourself “why is that different than purchasing from farmers at a farmers market or roadside stand. If you will allow me to share a little of the history behind CSA’s it might help answer that question. This information was taken from the Mother Jones, March/April 1997 article “Buying the Farm”:

The CSA concept is a product of the turbulent ‘60s—in Japan . As the country faced a loss of farmland due to development, a growing infiltration of imported foods, and the resulting exodus of farmers to cities, a group of Japanese homemakers approached a local farmer with the idea of making a financial commitment to the farm in exchange for fruits and vegetables. They entered into a contract, or teikei, which literally translates as “partnership” but philosophically means “food with the farmer’s face on it.” The concept took root and eventually spread. Today, more than 600 CSA farms across the U.S. and Canada serve close to 150,000 participants.

We’ve been busy this past winter here at Heartland Meats, putting together our own unique “beef producer CSA.” In a produce farm CSA you purchase an equal “share” of whatever is produced on that farm over the specified growing season. With our CSA, you will be purchasing an equal “share” of the cuts that come off one animal. Also in the early days of CSA’s, a CSA member would be required to pay for all shares before seed was ever planted or a crop ever produced. However, that has evolved over the years and some CSA’s are more of a “pay as you go” or a couple payments throughout the growing season.  Here’s how our CSA program works:

We have developed a program for you to conveniently and economically purchase a quarter of beef, in six boxes of approximately 24 lbs. each, within a period of one year.

• Better yet, WE WILL NOT REQUIRE PAYMENT UP FRONT nor membership fees. Just call us to set up an account and you will be able to “pay as you purchase” with a savings totaling $198.00 over Farmers Market Prices.

• You choose what, when and where. Make your choice from each category and in the amount designated on our CSA Order Form. Then specify the pick-up or farmers market location and date you wish to have your order delivered (please let us know at least 3 days in advance of pick-up date).

• Your cost is $168.00 each for the first 5 boxes and you will receive the 6^th box FREE (and at your convenience). And better yet, if you wish to purchase more than 6 boxes within a 1-year period, the cost per additional box will be $140.00 each!

Click here for our web based order form!