The 9th Annual CSA Share Fair Is March 3

Those of you who have read this blog for a while know my background with CSAs—I used to help run one in Astoria, Queens for about a decade. I think they are an excellent way to access fresh, seasonal produce (and in some cases, fish, meat, dairy, grains, beans, and more) from local sources. If you are curious about or want to reconnect with a CSA (which stands for Community Supported Agriculture), the CSA Share Fair is your answer.

The CSA Share Fair

On Sunday, March 3, from 10am to 1pm, head to the Redd on Salmon Street for the annual CSA Share Fair, produced by the Pacific Northwest Community Supported Agriculture Coalition (PNWCSA). This nonprofit organization is based in Portland and dedicates their time and effort into promoting CSAs and the sustainable local food system that comes with it. It’s good news for consumers and good news for farmers: 2,000 people are expected to attend, which leads to approximately $65,000 generated for the 40-or-so farmers there.

Because the farmers will be at the Share Fare, this is a fantastic chance to connect with the people who will grow your food, see what their farms are all about, learn about the kind of produce you can expect to find throughout the season, the farming practices they implement, and more.

Holly Hutchason, Executive Director of the PNWCSA, likens joining a CSA to having a subscription, and that is an apt comparison. She continues, “Members enjoy a wider variety of foods than you’d get at the grocery store, contributing to a healthier, and much tastier, diet. Becoming a CSA member is an excellent way to support your farmers and the local economy and attending CSA Share Fair is the best way to get started.”

The Financial Side

Your membership in a CSA is a huge financial help to the farmers. The money you provide is there at the beginning, which can be used for everything from costs of seeds to payroll for their crew. Here’s more about the financial relationships established in CSA (source: PNWCSA): “In a CSA, people become members of a farm in exchange for recurrent shares of the seasonal harvest. This relationship transcends the usual commercial transaction by having farmers and members share the risks and benefits inherent to agriculture.”

In my experience, the membership in a CSA also equals belief in the work of our farmers, and that is priceless. As Heidi Noordijk, Small Farms Coordinator at OSU Extension, says, “Farmers also benefit from building relationships with the community from year to year, and feeding families.”

And good news for those on with lower incomes—you can learn how to access CSA shares at half the price when purchasing with SNAP.

Cooking Demos and Activities

Now, along with all the conversations you can have with the farmers, there will also be cooking demonstrations going on during the event. The focus is seasonal foods and the chefs will use a variety of techniques and flavors. The participating chefs include:

Deepak Saxena of Masala Labs & DesiPDX
Dani Morales of De Noche
David Propst and Elise Moore of ROAM PDX.

To round things off there will be some children’s activities, raffles, and sales of locally-produced food and spirits. Be sure to stop by the tables of the following organizations, who are working to support a sustainable, local food system: Culinary Breeding Network, Slow Food Portland, Friends of Family Farmers, and Rogue Farm Corps.

Finally, from Heidi Noordijk again, “The multitude of CSA offerings in the Pacific Northwest and the diverse array of healthy choices for members makes CSA participation a wonderful experience for the entire community.” I hope you will consider checking out this event and participating in a local CSA this year!

9th Annual CSA Share Fair
Sunday, March 3, 2024
10am to 1pm
Redd on Salmon Street
831 SE Salmon Street, Portland

The 2024 CSA Share Fair is made possible by support from Country Financial, East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, Ecotrust, Metro, NW Natural, Tillamook, and the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District.