National CSA Sign Up Day

Support local farmers, sign up for weekly produce baskets at pickup locations around Central Ark and Fort Smith

Buying local food is increasing in popularity across the state and Heifer International, in collaboration with Foodshed Farms, makes it easy to get connected. The Foodshed Farms CSA, which stands for community supported agriculture, brings together consumers and farmers enabling them to purchase a “share” of weekly produce delivered to several locations in Central Arkansas.

Starting in early May, shareholders will receive six to 10 pounds of fresh certified organic and certified naturally grown produce per week, sized for a family of two to three people. The spring and summer CSA will last 16 weeks and cost $440, or shareholders can sign up for 8 weeks at a time for $240. Each week there will be a variety of in-season produce. For example, CSA shareholders can expect sustainably grown produced like lettuce, greens, and carrots in the spring followed by tomatoes, peppers, and squash later in the summer. 

Pickup locations are as follows: Heifer International headquarters, Baptist Health (LR), Baptist Health NLR Campus, Unitarian Universalist Church on Reservoir Rd., Arkansas Children’s Hospital, The Locals Food Hub (Conway), Natural Things Food Store (Bryant), and Mercy Hospital (Fort Smith).

Foodshed Farms CSA connects communities by providing consumers with access to healthy, locally produced food and by creating or connecting stable markets to small-scale farmers while paying them a fair price for their goods, increasing their incomes and providing them with opportunities for sustainable living. The farmers are enabled by gaining access to markets, and consumers are empowered to support their community on a microeconomic level.

Because of the success of last year’s CSA, there will be 600 shares available this year. Sign up for yours at www.foodshedfarms.com.

ABOUT HEIFER INTERNATIONAL

Heifer’s mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. For more than 70 years, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Heifer is currently working in more than 30 countries, including the United States, to help families and communities become more self-reliant. For information, visit www.heifer.org, read our blog, follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @Heifer or call 888.5HUNGER (888.548.6437).