Additional Products

As CSA in New York City has grown, members have become interested in sourcing more items, in addition to vegetables, from local farmers. Some CSA members want the convenience of getting additional products such as fruit, meat, milk, eggs, cheese, flowers, honey and value added products at their CSA distribution site and also to support local farms as much as possible.  CSA vegetable farmers can decide whether they have the capacity themselves to supply more products in addition to vegetables to the CSA.  If the farmer is not interested in offering additional products, the CSA group can individually source these from other farmers with the agreement of the vegetable farmer. 

Where Do Additional Products Come From?
There are three ways that CSAs in NYC have been getting these additional products.

1. Some CSA vegetable farms are already producing these items and making them available to their members in the form of “Additional Shares”. These Additional Share prices and sizes depend on the product and what would be a reasonable amount for 1-3 people.

2. Farms that do not produce these additional products on the farm often connect with a neighboring farm that produces them.  Together, farmers coordinate ordering, delivery, and profit sharing for the additional products.  Generally, the vegetable farmer will drop off the additional products with the vegetables.  

3. If the vegetable farmer is not interested in either of the above systems, CSA groups may also develop a relationship with another provider through the Just Food Additional Products list. This list, compiled by Just Food, has Additional Product providers organized by product. It has contact information for farms in the NYC region that are interested in selling meat, fruit, dairy, and other products to CSAs in NYC.  These products are delivered by that provider to the CSA distribution site for pick up at the same time as the vegetable share distribution.

Looking for an additional product farmer?  See our list of local providers.