What is a CSA?
CSA, Community Supported Agriculture, Programs provide subscribers with weekly boxes of produce and other local agriculture products. They began as a way for farmers to fund the growing season and ensure customers’ product availability at the same time. Our CSA has monthly subscriptions and has four boxes picked up by customers over the span of four weeks.
All boxes must be picked up at the market by the customer on Wednesdays from 4:30PM-6:00PM. The customer is responsible for pick-up. Items will be held until the close of the market or 7PM, whichever comes first. After that time, there are no refunds or cancellations for that box. When you place an order, you have the option to select weeks in which you will be out of town and receive a “double portion” for weeks in which you be available. The market is located at the corner of 8th Street and Elm Street in Downtown Lumberton, NC. Click here for more market information. Read our typed application here.
Why should you join our CSA?
Convenience.
Receive all of your produce in one box ready to go. The farmer grows it for you. We shop for you. You walk away with your box and recipe cards ready for dinner.
Support your local economy.
When you purchase a CSA subscription, you are directly supporting your neighbors- farmers in Robeson County. Those dollars are important for the long-term success of our economy.
Reduce food miles and contact.
When you purchase from a supermarket, your food has been handled over one dozen times and traveled anywhere from 300-3,000 miles to get to you. Conserve our fuel and reduce the contact points on your food by purchasing a CSA box.
Security.
You are ensured your weekly box of items. With a variety of vendors to pull from, we will guarantee your food for the week.
You can rest assured that your products were grown and handled with care by your neighbors and friends.
Shop at the market.
After picking up your box, feel free to browse the Farmers Market while it is open on Wednesdays from 3-6PM.
Are you in a small household and don’t want to purchase a large produce box? Then, subscribe to our egg or value-added options and purchase the produce you need while at the market.
Quality at a good price.
Your produce and eggs are harvested on the day of pick-up. Your meat and value-added products weren’t stored in a facility for months at a time. Get the freshest ingredients at a price that will beat the big box stores. Our meats are natural, pasture-raised, and antibiotic free. They are comparable, if not cheaper to equal product in stores.
What comes in a CSA Box?
Our CSA has four options: Produce, Meat, Eggs, & Value-Added. Each is available for purchase on a monthly basis. You may mix and match the options, or purchase all four each month.
Each box will include a recipe card and information about the farmer that provided the items.
HALF SHARE OPTIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRODUCE, EGGS, AND THE “ALL OPTIONS” BOXES. HALF SHARES AIM FOR THE SAME VARIETY OF PRODUCE AS FULL SHARES, BUT HALF OF THE QUANTITY. HALF SHARES OF EGGS ONLY HAVE TWO DOZEN EGGS DISTRIBUTED ON WEEKS 1 AND 3 OF EACH MONTH. THERE ARE NO HALF SHARE OPTIONS FOR MEAT OR VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS.
Produce Box Description & Example
The Produce Box will always include a variety of Robeson County produce from several vendors at our market. This monthly subscription costs $75 and has a variety of produce aimed to feed a family of 3-5 people for a week. We also have a half-share size produce box available for those with smaller families. You can learn more about our vendors here.
The sample in the picture above has:
(The box will include at least one fruit when in season. This is not pictured here.)
Two Heads of Collards
Two lbs of Broad-leaf Mustard
One Quart of Spinach
Six Green Tomatoes
Five lbs of Red & White Potatoes
One Bunch of Kale
This is a sample box. Each week will vary based on availability and season. We aim for variety, quality, and a quantity to satisfy your household. There are no substitutions or requests for certain products at this time.
Meat Box: Description & Examples
The Meat Box includes a variety of natural, pasture-raised meats from Robeson County. The meat is raised antibiotic-free and raised to the highest standards possible. A variety of beef, pork, lamb, and chicken will be provided over the course of the monthly subscription. One to two meals could be made from each box. Recipe cards and farmer information will be provided in each box. You can learn more about each of our meat vendors here.
Example Monthly Meat Box Options:
Week 1: CSA Choice- meat could include chicken, pork, lamb, or beef. Possible cuts of beef include: stew beef, roast, cube steak, tenderloin, etc. 1-2 lbs of Choice Meat Cuts.
Week 2: 1-2 lbs of Choice Pork Cuts. Pork. A variety of ground sausage, link sausage, pork chops, side meat, jowls, brats, etc. will be given. Each week will vary based on availability for the farmer.
Week 3: CSA Choice- meat could include chicken, pork, lamb, or beef. If beef, it will be 1-2 pounds of Ground Beef.
Week 4: Chicken or Pork. Example box: 1 Whole Chicken or 1-2 lb of Pork Sausage or Side Meat.
We aim for variety, quality, and quantity to satisfy your household. No substitutions or requests at this time.
Egg Box: Description
The Egg Box is a monthly subscription to four dozen eggs. Each week, for four weeks, you receive one dozen free-range, Robeson County produced eggs. Half share boxes are available with two dozen eggs over the course of a one month subscription.
Pick-up will be at the Robeson County Farmers Market on Wednesdays from 4:30PM-6:00PM. This is a popular add-on to other box types. This option may also be purchased separately.
Value-Added Box: Description
The Value-Added box includes a variety of products either made by our farmers in Robeson County or made in North Carolina and sold by our farmers.
Week 1: Honey from Seven Stars Farm in Lumberton, NC.
Week 2: Bread, Cookies, and Baked goods from any farm with a Certified Kitchen on our vendor list (CSA choice)
Week 3: Jams, Jellies, Pickles from any farm with a Certified Kitchen on our vendor list (CSA choice)
Week 4: Handcrafted soaps, lotions, bath bombs, laundry detergent, etc from any crafter on our vendor list (CSA choice)
We aim for variety and quality in products made by local growers and artisans. The purpose of this box is to showcase Value-Added products in our area. No substitutions within each week. The CSA Coordinator will contact you with possible flavor options each month.