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Fall brings with it visions of a colorful cornucopia. Bright orange pumpkins, dark green squash, rosy-cheeked apples and golden pears beckon, bound to tempt even some of the pickiest eaters. The best way for Seattle-area families to enjoy some of these harvest delights? Staying close-to-home and supporting local farms with a fall or winter CSA share.
While spring is the more common CSA season, some farms also operate a season for fall and winter harvest, or year-round programs. We’ve scouted the options to bring you a round-up of farm-fresh veggie, fruit, meat, and other fall CSA offerings from around the area, all with delivery or pickup available around Seattle.
What is a CSA?
An acronym for “community supported agriculture,” CSA programs are a way for consumers to help local farmers by purchasing a share of the harvest in advance of the growing season, and then receiving a weekly box of fresh seasonal produce (or other farm-fresh goodies like meat or eggs) in return. For families, it’s a fantastic way to get to know where your food comes from, experiment with novel flavors (yes, the kids may even try a veggie) and get creative with new meal ideas and recipes.
Where to get your fall and winter CSA shares
Jubilee Farm
Based in Carnation, this friendly Eastside farm makes for a fun visit for local families. Three CSA season memberships are available, with fall and winter sessions running for eight weeks each — November through December, and February through mid-April. Available for pickup at multiple locations around Seattle and the Eastside, fall boxes come in two share sizes (to feed two or four, starting at $315), and are packed with long-storing crops such as carrots, turnips and beets, leafy greens and rotating add-ins like locally grown mushrooms, microgreens and farm-fresh eggs.
A “Boxletter” bulletin comes included in each box, filled with tips and recipes so families can make the most of their share.
Sno Valley Gardens
A family farm run by husband-and-wife team Dino and Anelo, SnoValley Gardens grows organic vegetables and pasture-raised eggs using regenerative soil management methods in the Eastside’s fertile Sammamish Valley. Their fall CSA shares begin the first week of October and runs for eight weeks; with a weekly tote bag filled with seven to nine vegetable and herb varieties featuring everything from salad mix to bok choy, daikon, kohlrabi, pumpkin and more. Shares start at $425 and weekly delivery is included to the greater Seattle area and Eastside neighborhoods.
Boldly Grown Farm
This family-owned, certified organic farm in Skagit Valley specializes in growing fall and winter crops. Their winter CSA includes 10 biweekly boxes, delivered to drop sites around Seattle and Skagit Valley. They offer one share size. Each delivery generally feeds between two to four people and includes winter veggies such as carrots, golden beets or garlic; freshly harvested produce (think Swiss chard or purple broccoli); and bonus pantry products like sauerkraut, pickled peppers, or spices.
Members can also choose to add on a bread share from a local bakery or a cheese subscription, featuring a different cheese from local cheesemakers in every box. Shares start at $575, and financial aid discounts are available.
Collins Family Orchards
While vegetables make up the bulk of most farms’ fall harvests, fruit lovers can rejoice at the sweet seasonal offerings of Collins Family Orchards. Based in Yakima County, this fourth-generation family orchard is known for its flavorful, sustainably grown hybrid fruit varietals.
The fall CSA share runs 11 weeks from October to late December and delivers boxes of ripe, juicy goodness: late-season peaches, apples, pears and plums to name a few. Three share sizes are available, starting at $16 per week, with pick-up or home delivery options. Share members can also choose add-on options from local partner farms, such as a microgreens share, local cheeses or an organic veggie box.
Foggy Hog Farm
Farm shares are not just about the produce. Go hog wild for delicious and sustainable meat options with a meat CSA from Port Townsend’s Foggy Hog Farm. Committed to a holistic, responsibly raised approach to livestock farming, the Foggy Hog share program offers bundles of beef, pork, lamb and chicken, with products ranging from sausages and bacon to chops and ground meat.
Customers can choose what goes in their bag and pick it up at farmers’ markets around the area — the meat comes frozen in a reusable insulated bag for easy storage. Home delivery is also available for a small fee.
Zestful Gardens
A 30-acre farm in the Puyallup Valley near Tacoma, Zestful Gardens practices holistic agricultural methods to grow sustainable and flavor-packed vegetables, herbs and small fruit. Four CSA seasons are available, including main season, spring, fall and year-round shares. The fall program spans November and December and offers biweekly boxes with double the produce amounts to help save fuel costs and stock up for winter. Extra-large shares of root vegetables, squash, greens, Brussels sprouts and other fall crops are available for pick up at the farm or town site. Members can also add eggs, fruit or organic meat options. Shares start at $475.
Hood River Organic
Want to give CSA a try but not ready to fully commit yet? Oregon’s Hood River Organic farm is a flexible option that lets you explore the CSA concept without paying upfront for a full season. Members can pay by week and start or cancel at any time. Plus, you can pick the produce in your boxes from a seasonal list, rather than receive a pre-picked selection — perfect for those of us with picky eaters or the culinary-challenged.
Three box sizes are available to feed anywhere from one to five people and can be customized with additional local treats like bread, cheese, eggs, jams, salsas and more. The boxes are available by home delivery only around the Seattle and Tacoma metro areas. Boxes start at $35 for the Micro Sprout option.
Pike Place Market
For those looking to dip a toe into the CSA world without jumping into a full subscription, Pike Place Market’s Harvest Box is a chance to do just that.
The Harvest Box is a special one-time Pike Box containing 13 produce items such as sweet potatoes, a Brussels sprout stalk, kabocha squash, mushrooms, cranberries and pears. It’s the perfect box for preparing a Thanksgiving meal for friends and family. The deadline to register for a Harvest Box is Nov. 13. Boxes must be picked up from the Market on Nov. 20.
If you’re looking for a more traditional CSA subscription, the Market also offers three, nine-week seasons for Pike Boxes: Spring runs April through May; Summer 1 runs June through early August; and Summer 2 runs late-August through October.
More fall activities and ideas for families: |
Editor’s note: This article was previously published in fall 2023, and was most recently updated in September 2024 by ParentMap’s editorial team with additional resources and up-to-date information about CSA pricing and availability.
