The cooler Colorado temperatures don’t phase the state’s favorite local farms. Many smaller Colorado farms will continue to grow fall and winter crops to provide their communities with fresh and local food. We’ve done the research so you can reap the benefits of local produce by joining one of these Community Supported Agriculture programs this fall and winter.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs are set up to benefit both the farmer and the eater and cultivate a relationship between those who grow the food and those who eat it. Members buy a share of the farm, paying an upfront fee to allow farmers to sow, grow and harvest crops. Throughout the season, members receive their share of the harvest as well as other membership benefits in some cases, including farm tours. Consumers take a risk along with the farmer, but they also share the great benefits of supporting local farmers in their community. This kind of relationship enables smaller farms to thrive in this age of large-scale farming.

The beauty of supporting CSAs not only means receiving fresh produce all year long, but it also means reducing the miles your food travels before it reaches your kitchen. Joining a CSA boosts the local economy, reduces your carbon footprint and cultivates a sense of community around food. Below are local farms that offer great fall and winter CSA programs. Sign up to be a member to one today and enjoy fresh produce all season long.

Colorado CSAs

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Ahavah Farms, located in Peyton, offers a winter CSA opportunity that runs from November to March. CSA shares run for 13 weeks, with a break in January. Included in the weekly produce are root vegetables such as carrots, radishes, beets and turnips and greens such as spinach, kale, lettuce and micro greens. CSA members can retrieve their produce on Thursdays from 5 – 6:30 p.m. at 350 S. Dahlia Street Denver. For more information on Ahavah Farms’ CSA, click here.

Aspen Moon Farm is located in Longmont and is offering a fall CSA program this year. Members will receive a weekly box for 7 weeks starting October 30 and ending December 11, with a double share amount for Thanksgiving week. Fall produce this year includes root vegetables such as carrots, beets, radishes, onions and garlic; hoophouse greens such as kale, chard and spinach; and other produce such as horseradish, raddichio and broccoli. Aspen Moon’s produce is USDA Certified Organic and Demeter Certified Biodynamic. The fall CSA boxes must be picked up at Aspen Moon’s Farm Stand located at 7927 Hygiene Road, Longmont. Hours for pickup time are flexible to allow members to drive from Denver and Boulder: Tuesday-Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. Aspen Moon is still determining if they will be able to offer a winter CSA opportunity. Membership benefits include free farm tours, seeds for personal gardens and U-Pick Berry opportunities. To check Aspen Moon’s seed availability, click here. More information on CSA opportunities can be found here.

Cure Organic Farms is located in Boulder and offers an eight-week fall CSA that runs from October 24-December 12. This year fall produce will include greens such as head lettuce, baby arugula, chards and kale; root vegetables such as carrots, beets, potatoes and onions; and other vegetables such as winter squash, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussel sprouts. Each week members will also receive a selection of apples or pears. Members may add on additional shares of eggs, bread, coffee or wine and cheese from local partners to the farm. Cure Organic Farms also offers a Thanksgiving box for those who are not members of the fall CSA program. Weekly pick up is on Wednesdays from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at 7450 Valmont Road, Boulder For more information on the fall CSA program or Thanksgiving box opportunities, email cureorganicfarm@yahoo.com or visit its website.

GoFarm Co-Op is a Golden-based nonprofit that partners with local farmers to improve the local food system and provide information for people to know more about where their food is grown or made. This year GoFarm is offering a winter CSA from January to mid-April. Produce for the CSA includes varieties of lettuce, microgreens, herbs, potatoes and mushrooms; and pre-made goods such as sunflower oil, jam and apple sauce. GoFarm also offers add-on opportunities for egg and bread shares. Members can pick up CSA boxes on Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m. or Thursdays from 8-10 a.m. at 600 9th Street, Golden or 16320 W 64th Avenue, Arvada.  For more information on the 2019 winter CSA program, click here.

Jodar Farms offers a unique CSA opportunity this winter starting in January and running through May. Located in Fort Collins, Jodar Farms raises chickens and hogs for eggs, chicken meat, and pork. The winter CSA membership is customizable and offers members a selection of eggs, pork sausage and ground beef. Once a month pickup is on the third Saturday of the month from 10-11 a.m. at 1630 Hawthorn Avenue, Boulder. Click here for more information on Jodar Farms’ CSA programs.

Lora’s Nourishing Produce grows greens, microgreens, root vegetables, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, peppers, squash and pumpkins for Thanksgiving pies on their Brighton farm. Members of Lora’s Nourishing Produce’s fall CSA will receive these products as well as dried or fresh herbs, cherry amaretto jam and peach basil jam from the farms’ preserved harvest. Pickups can be made on Wednesdays starting October 31 and running through December 12, not including the week of Thanksgiving. Denver pickup locations are from 2:45 to 3:15 p.m. at St. John’s Cathedral (1350 Washington Street) or from 6 to 6:30 p.m. at the corner of Holly and Evans. For additional pickup locations in the area, click here. More information on the fall CSA program can be found on Lora’s Nourishing Produce website.

Monroe Organic Farms is the oldest organic farms in Colorado. Located in Kersey, Monroe Organic Farms harvests potatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage, red beets, rutabaga, parsnips, garlic, leeks, popcorn, winter squash, dried beans and sweet potatoes for a Winter CSA program. Running from November to February, pickups will be every two weeks on Wednesday at the corners of 6th Avenue and Downing or Colfax and Ulster in Denver as well as other locations throughout the state. For a full listing of winter CSA pickup locations, click here. More information on the winter CSA program can be found on its website.

If your budget doesn’t allow you to commit to an entire season of fresh produce, consider purchasing a food box from The GrowHaus. Located in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood of Denver, The GrowHaus offers a couple options for food box orders. The Basic Box, costing $20 a week, includes a variety of produce as well as bread every other week. To opt out of the bread delivery, choose the All-Produce box for $15 a week. Add on to your box with a bundle of extra fruit or vegetables for $7 each. Pick up your food box at The GrowHaus or pay $5 for home delivery. The GrowHaus also takes donations to the food box program to provide a local family in the Elyria-Swansea or Globeville neighborhoods. For more information on the food box program, click here.

 

All photography by Evans Ousley.