We’ve spoken at length about how a CSA subscription supports your health, wellness, and community. But there are plenty of lesser-known ways a CSA can improve your life, some of which we did not realize our members were benefiting from until they told us.
In 2026, grocery prices seem to change constantly, sometimes even while we’re in the store. That makes budgeting harder and adds financial uncertainty for households.
The price of an Elmwood Summer CSA share is locked in at the start of each year. Because you know up front exactly what you are paying the farm, this makes it easy to set your fresh produce budget, egg budget, or meat budget for the season. We price our CSA shares before the season begins, and then week after week, you secure the volume of food you signed up for. And while you have the freedom to add a little extra to one week’s share (or a little less if you still have something from last week), you can easily keep an eye on your CSA credit amount on your Account Activity page.
The time you used to spend in the produce aisle comparing bundles of asparagus that ten other people picked up and put back is now time you can spend at home, or doing anything else. Because your fruits and veggies are hand-delivered, that time can go toward prepping dinner with a loved one, relaxing after work, and more. You also get to enjoy food that has been handled by as few people as possible before it makes its way promptly to you.
The farmer’s market is notorious for running out of fan favorites like strawberries, sweet corn, chicken breast, and peaches. While we do our best to meet demand at market, we can and do run out for a few reasons (often a combination of more than one):
In an Elmwood CSA, we reserve first pick for our CSA members, who have done us the honor of supporting us upfront for an entire growing season. It’s important, then, that we give our best to those who have invested in their local food system, and in us. Members can go online and add those beloved berries to their bag. We make sure they get the freshest. For crops with notoriously short seasons, CSA is the best way to secure them.
Throughout the year, we’ll partner with other sustainable operations to offer our members products that can’t be locally sourced. We work with fisheries in Alaska, where wild fish harvests are among the most responsibly managed in the world as mandated by the Alaskan state constitution. Their salmon, halibut, and shrimp is blast frozen after hours, not days, of being caught. This locks-in the prized, wild-caught texture, flavor, and nutrition that’s very hard to find in Kentucky, but easy to ship here.
In addition to offering their products through CSA, we also provide discount codes for CSA members who wish to order direct from these partners. You don’t need to go without just because Elmwood sold out of wild Alaskan king salmon.
As a CSA member, you’ve already done the work. You’ve committed to us for a whole season. Now it’s our turn.
We’re committed to you; from the fields, to packing, to delivery, to admin. It’s in our best interest to give you our all. Because you entered into this family of ours, we’ll pick up the phone when you need us. We’ll keep improving on our practices. And we’ll keep responsibly farming the land our forebears passed down to John and Ann as the sixth generation of farmers. Thank you for being here with us while we do it.