History of Growing Whatcom
Multiple-Farm CSA
The idea for many farms to collaborate in a single CSA was borrowed from the old Market Basket CSA at Pike Place Market in Seattle. Studying their system and learning from the strengths and weaknesses of their operations, Whatcom County farmers decided to develop a collaborative CSA of their own. Growing Washington acts as the managing body for this CSA, coordinating and providing the most efficient transportation network we can to collect produce and deliver it in family-sized boxes to the CSA members. One box is normally adequate to provide a week of dishes for a family of 4 or 5. While in a traditional CSA one farm is responsible for 8 to 12 different items in a box, a multiple-farm CSA allows each farmer to concentrate on just a few of his or her best items of the week. Just as in years past, 20 weeks of appealing produce will come from farms throughout Whatcom County, primarily in the Ferndale, Lynden, and Everson areas.