As warmer weather arrives, farmers are beefing up their community supported agriculture (CSA) membership lists. These cooperatives support farmers and serve their consumers fresh food with a side of sustainability.

To become part of a CSA, a person usually pays in advance for “shares” or baskets of meat, dairy and produce from a local farmer. Memberships can be on a per delivery basis or a subscription for several months.

The arrangement offers farmers money up front to seed their season and ensure a customer is there to buy their products. Members have access to a variety of produce that tends to be non-GMO or organically grown, and to hormone- and antibiotic-free meats that are not mass-produced.

“The value of a CSA period is that it exposes individuals to a multitude of different vegetables and it brings diversity into your diet,” says Terri Jagger Blincoe, founder of Ladybug Farms, a CSA that serves Cabbagetown and Clayton, Georgia. “Every single one of those vegetables has a different vitamin and mineral. We tend to gravitate to the same five vegetables—stick to what we’re comfortable with. When you pay good money and it shows up in your share each week, you’re going to figure out what to do with it. That whole diversity in our diet; we’ve kinda gotten away from.”

CSA farms often have a pickup location, although some deliver to homes. See the next page for resources to join a CSA within an hour radius of downtown Atlanta. The list of Greater Atlanta CSAs was compiled from information from GeorgiaOrganics.org, LocalHarvest.org and the individual farm websites.

Champion Farms Location: 16561 Hwy. 18, Pine Mountain Contact: Thomas Champion 706-457-0039 Seasons: April through December Products: Hay, bedding, pickles, preserves, herbs, eggs, produce Prices: $160 to $260 per 10 weeks

Crack in the Sidewalk Farmlet Contact: [email protected] Seasons: April through November Products: Heirloom and rare vegetables, wild edibles Prices: $400 for 15 weeks, $800 for 30 weeks Pickup/Service area: Atlanta, 561 Flat Shoals Ave. SE, Atlanta; 600 Cherokee Ave. SE, Atlanta

Freewheel Farm Location: 105 Vanira Ave., Atlanta Contact: FreewheelFarmatl@ gmail.com; Facebook.com/freewheelfarmatl Seasons: Spring, summer, fall Products: Herbs, produce, flowers Prices: $30 weekly, up to $900 for full seasons Pickup: Atlanta: The Grant Park Farmers’ Market, 600 Cherokee Ave. SE; The Farm in Summerhill, 216 Little St. SE

Gilliam’s Community Garden Location: 1286 Oakland Terr., SW, Atlanta Contact: 678-949-8530 or 404-410-0548 Products: Certified organic and animal welfare approved eggs, flowers, herbs, seedlings, vegetables Prices: 12 weeks for $225, which offers three to four items weekly, volunteer and other membership opportunities Contact points/delivery: on farm

Global Grower’s Network Contact: GlobalGrowers.org/farmshare Seasons: Spring, summer, fall Products: Eggs, produce, coffee, artisan products Prices: $300 to $969, Discounts for volunteers, 50 percent off for members that pay with EBT/SNAP benefits Pickup locations: Virginia Highlands, Decatur Farmers’ Market, Kirkwood, East Lake

Heritage Farm Location: 205 Day Rd., Bowdon Carroll County Contact: [email protected]; Heritage-Farm.net Seasons: Four seasons Products: Eggs, protein, fruits, vegetables Prices: CSA packages range from $260 to $590, egg add-on available Contact points/delivery: Carollton, Atlanta, Marietta, Kennesaw, Woodstock, Cumming, Douglasville, Roswell

Love Is Love Farm Location: Gaia Gardens Contact: LoveIsLoveFarm.com Seasons: April through December Products: Vegetables, will deliver meat shares from Frolona Farm Prices: Spring half share is $240, plus $20 annual fee if not residents of East Lake Commons; $445 full share, plus $20 fee; Frolona Farm Good Meat share, $137 to $275. Service area: Atlanta, Decatur Contact points/delivery: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, 1911 Cliff Valley Way NE, Atlanta; Gaia Gardens, next to 529 Summit Dr., Decatur

Mayflor Farms Location: 1206 Old Conyers Rd., Stockbridge Contact: MayflorFarms.com/csa/, 256-281-7889, [email protected] Products: Vegetables, fruits Prices:  $140 to $540 monthly and seasonal shares Service area; Atlanta Contact points/delivery: 1206 Old Conyers Rd., Stockbridge

Moore Farms and Friends Contact: MooreFarmsAndFriends.com Seasons: Four seasons Products: Produce, frozen meats Prices: $20 to $40 farmer pick boxes; customer choice additional fee, $36 annual memberships fee Contact points/delivery: Norcross, Sandy Springs, downtown Atlanta, Buckhead, Midtown, East Cobb, Decatur, Smyrna, Candler Park

Rise ‘N Shine Organic Farm Contact: RiseNShine.CsaSignUp.com/members, Mitch Lawson 706-676-0825 Seasons: Four seasons Products:  Produce, eggs from Beulah Farms Prices: $450 for 15 weeks to $870 for 30 weeks Service area: Atlanta, Rome, Cartersville, Calhoun, Roswell, Decatur, Kennesaw, Marietta and Dalton.

Riverview Farms Contact: GrassFedCow.com; 678-910-2831 Location: 954 White Graves Rd., Ranger Seasons: Four seasons Products: Grass-fed beef, grains, heritage pork, produce Prices: Meat shares and produce shares sold separately; meat from $68.33 to $140; produce $26 to $30 a share Service area: Greater Atlanta through mobile deliveries and markets, from Tucker to Grant Park, Virginia Highlands, downtown Atlanta, Decatur, Alpharetta, Marietta, Smyrna

Southern Comfort Cattle Company Contact: SouthernComfortCattle.com, 706-498-4215, [email protected] Location: 2555 Knox Bridge Crossing Rd., Lavonia Seasons: Four seasons Products: All natural, hormone- and antibiotic-free, grass-fed cattle Prices: Variable offers, $6 per pound lean ground beef, half animal $1,300, whole (approximately 450 pounds of beef) $2,500 Service area: Will ship

Truly Living Well Natural Urban Farm Contact: TrulyLivingWell.com/produce/csa-program, 678-973-0997 Location: P.O. Box 90841, East Point Seasons: Four seasons Products: Seasonal produce Prices: $250 to $400 shares, $195 for senior citizens 62 and older Pickup locations: 275 East Point St., East Point; Ponce City Farmers’ Market on the Beltline; Freedom Farmers’ Market at the Carter Center

Urban Sprouts Farm Contact: UrbanSproutFarms.com Location: 2200 Reynolds Dr., SW Atlanta Seasons: Four seasons Products: Vegetables Prices: 52-week advance bulk purchase $35/week, 52-week individual purpose $40/week Service area: Atlanta

Whole Kids Foundation Educational Farm Contact: 770-296-2828, [email protected], SquareUp.com/store/WholeKidsFarm Location: 1180 Upper Hembree Rd., Roswell Seasons: Spring, summer, fall Products: Eggs, protein, vegetables Prices: CSA packages range from $32 single week to $900 yearly Service area: General public, pickup at farm Contact points/delivery: on location