Penn State Extension has developed a searchable Community Supported Agriculture map of the commonwealth. Find this map on the Penn State Extension Lehigh County website under "Spotlight."

Enter an address in the search box to find a nearby CSA. Click on a green bubble in the map and the CSA contact information will pop up.

The map will be continually updated as Penn State Extension adds more CSA's. This is one great, timely tool to gain access to our abundant, safe and nutritious local food.

What is a CSA?

Community-supported agriculture is a concept designed to encourage relationships between consumers and growers and for consumers to become more knowledgeable about the way their food is grown.

A CSA involves consumers who support a farmer financially by paying for a share of the farm's production prior to each growing season.

CSAs range from smaller operations with three to 20 members to larger CSAs with hundreds of members or subscribers.

Some CSA's have pick-up locations at one or more spots in the community in addition to, or in lieu of pick up at the farm.

The benefit to the consumer is the opportunity to obtain fresh, local produce, meats, eggs and more from farmers in their communities. Direct-to-consumer farm marketing addresses the concern the average distance food travels from farm to consumer in the United States is approximately 1,300 miles, and participating in a CSA is one way to lessen the miles our food travels between a farm and our family table. Another advantage of obtaining food locally is the money stays within the local community.

The CSA arrangement allows farmers to buy the seeds, transplants and other things needed for the growing season, and pay their farm labor without waiting until harvest to generate revenue.

Farmers can develop a long-term relationship with their members, one that may encourage members to support farmers by renewing their memberships each year.

Although there are in excess of 290 farms listed, additional CSA's are still being accepted throughout Pennsylvania to add to this map.

Any CSA that would like to be added to this list, may email kam26@psu.edu.

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John Berry is agricultural marketing educator for the Ag Entrepreneurship and Economic and Community Development Team at Penn State Extension, Lehigh County.