CT NOFA Renews Farm Share Program for 2023

After a successful pilot program year in 2022, CT NOFA is happy to announce that we will continue to work collaboratively and region-wide in the Northeast to renew our community food security program, Farm Share. This program aims to provide limited income residents in the seven states of the Northeast (NY, MA, CT, RI, NJ, NH, VT) with the opportunity to support their local CSA farmer and receive reliable access to high-quality produce on a weekly basis through an innovative cost-share model.

We believe that all people have a right to access local, healthy food. We believe in strengthening the network that exists between consumers and farmers as a means to strengthen the fabric of our agrarian economy and contribute to the physical and spiritual nourishment of all people.

Spearheaded by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut (CT NOFA), and modeled on the Farm Share Program that has existed in NOFA-VT and NOFA-NH for many years, this region-wide collaboration is designed to make local, nourishing food more accessible while, equally importantly, still providing CSA farmers with a fair price and increase in market opportunity.

This season farmers will have the opportunity to offer a number of half-priced CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares, by partnering with NOFA, at no cost to the farmer.

How It Works:

• CT NOFA provides funds for 50% of each farm share, paid directly to the farms.
• Farm Share program recipients pay 50% of the total farm share cost upon program acceptance. Payment is made directly to the farm.
• Participating farms are encouraged to fundraise to help subsidize the cost of the share(s) offered through the Farm Share program.

Farm Share is a win-win-win: individuals and families gain access to healthy, affordable food; farmers benefit from an increase in market opportunities, build their customer base, and make their CSA programs more viable; and direct relationships are built between farmers and eaters, contributing to more socially connected and resilient communities.

Visit our Farm Share page to learn more about the launch of this important program and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all developments. If you are interested in supporting or participating in Farm Share through a donation or as a CSA farmer, please contact CT NOFA’s Farm Share Program Coordinator, Sherlene Rodriguez, sherlene@ctnofa.org, or visit our website for more information and relevant forms.

PLEASE NOTE that CSA farmer applications to participate in the program are due by March 1, 2023.