IOWA GROWN CSA
Our 2023 CSA starts the week of May 29th!
WE PROUDLY GROW...
over 100 types of vegetables, fruits, fungus, flowers and herb varieties on our family farm using organic practices (we are not organic certified). In 2018 we began offering a CSA to our neighbors, and now our CSA has grown to serve over 60 families in the West Branch, Iowa City, and Solon areas!
Our weekly summer shares are designed for smaller households and moderate fruit and vegetable eaters. That way you can enjoy local produce with less waste and still shop your local farm stand for more of what you love!
MEMBERS SHARE IN THE BOTH THE RISKS AND BENEFITS OF FARMING.
Every CSA operates a little differently, but the concept is the same: members pledge support to a local farm and in exchange receive a weekly share during the growing season consisting of fresh, local produce.
At Iowa Grown, we are proud that we have been able to provide weekly shares that meet or exceed the value of member's investments. The last few years have been bountiful and productive! It's worth noting that things can go wrong on the farm, and your share is a reflection of what our farm is experiencing and producing, whether that be bountiful harvests or crop failures.
WHY JOIN?
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weekly shares are full of fresh, local vegetables that are catered to smaller households/ moderate vegetable eaters
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exclusive mixes and blends not otherwise available at our market and are often assembled to work well together in recipes
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often times, the first crop harvest of the season
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produce that is picked fresh daily, often on the day of CSA pick up
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comprehensive emails containing important information, recipes and tips
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peace-of-mind that your food is coming from a local farm that values sustainable farming, organic practices, and providing safe, fresh food to our community
FAQS:
"Can I choose what is in my weekly share?"
We are unable to specialize each share. We do include lots of staple items that you use everyday. During CSA pick up, you have the freedom to only select the items you want and the quantity you desire.
"What if I go on vacation and miss a share?"
Missed shares can be picked up by a person of your choosing, or donated to a local pantry. We appreciate advance notice if you will not be picking up you share, or if someone else is picking up on your behalf.
"What if I forget to pick up my share?"
We will not save or hold missed shares. We recommend creating a weekly reminder in your phone or on your calendar. Any unclaimed shares at the end of pick up will be donated to our farm neighbors in need. Be on time to pick up your share or send someone to pick up your share for you if you can't make it.
"Can we come to the farm?"
Summers are very busy for us and our farm operates on a shared family farm, making events and tours a challenge. We will notify you if an opportunity to visit the farm becomes available. We do share a lot of photos and information on our social media and encourage you to follow us!
HELPFUL TIPS:
If you are not accustomed to eating seasonally, do some research:
You may find that it takes a while to make the transition from eating whatever is at the grocery store to whatever is in your CSA basket (what's in season). It may surprise you that tomatoes do not ripen until August, or that lettuce does not grow well in the heat of Iowa summer. We try to include leafy greens in every share, and in the heart of summer, you can expect cucumbers, sweet corn and zucchini in almost every share.
You should expect the season to start off lighter than it finishes.
The first crops out of the farm will be light like lettuce and greens. By the end of the season, the shares should be much heavier with things like squash, potatoes, and tomatoes.
Expect more vegetables than fruits in your CSA and be prepared to include fresh vegetables into most meals. Make new recipes and use substitutes in your favorite recipes. Freezing or preserving is a another great way to use extra produce.
We use organic practices. Don't be alarmed if you find signs of bug damage on your produce.
You must rinse your produce: Washing produce decreases the storage life of certain vegetables, so we try to wash as few of the vegetables as possible! You will find some things washed and some things that still have dirt on them- but please remember that everything needs to be rinsed at home before consuming.
READY TO JOIN?!
Sign up for our email at the bottom of this page. You'll get a notification when it's time to join. Enrollment happens every February. Returning members have priority sign up.