Centre County CSA sets itself apart from others with focus on variety, accessibility

GroundWork Farms is not your average CSA (or, Community Supported Agriculture) program. While, yes, locals can still receive subscription-based boxes of fresh, local, seasonal produce throughout the year, the CSA offers much more — and it all starts with how GroundWork Farms sources its produce.

Whereas most CSA programs are helmed by a singular farm, offering just the produce and other products grown or made at that farm, Millheim-based GroundWork Farms works as a connector for multiple producers. The resulting increased offerings benefit both customers and farms alike, particularly those that might not be large enough to offer a CSA on their own. Meanwhile, buyers enjoy a range of products from a range of farms, but with a singular purchase, all online.

Virginia Stiles purchased GroundWork Farms CSA and Buying Club in November 2022.

“CSA purchases were once a lot more cumbersome, but GroundWork Farms has automated everything,” she said. “We use an e-commerce system to take all orders online and then we deliver CSA orders ... directly to people’s homes or offices. We make it easier to order and easier to get your stuff.”

All of the GroundWork Farms farmer partners are Amish, which comes with its own benefits, according to Stiles, who said that buying from the Amish has never been quite this easy, allowing customers throughout the county to buy Amish produce with just a few clicks.

“(The Amish) are a really big part of our community, but it’s not necessarily that easy to do business with them,” Stiles said. “However, they’re awesome people to work with if you’re into your food being not only pesticide-free, herbicide-free, chemical-free, antibiotic-free, GMO-free and all that good stuff, but also in dealing with people who are pretty off-grid and have a very low environmental impact.”

Stiles moved to the area in 2022 and, when the option arose to purchase GroundWork Farms CSA and Buying Club, she couldn’t pass it up.

“It was a really great opportunity for me to be able to step into something that was already functioning and that needed a new ship’s captain at the wheel ... and a way for me to plug into the area, the people, the farmers and the food, and be of use to my neighbors by doing what I like to do,” she said.

However, while Stiles described connecting communities to the fresh produce, dairy, meat and other products that GroundWork Farms offers as “religious work,” just leaving the business operating as-is was not in her plans. She almost immediately wanted to make significant changes, including making it possible for the CSA to accept SNAP benefits, as well as introducing a new subscription service for buyers who don’t prefer the traditional CSA model, but who still love local produce and products.

“We’re implementing a subscription service. It’s a lot like if you just went on Amazon and had your favorite creamer show up every week. You’ll be able to sign up and have fresh raw cream or eggs at your doorstep,” Stiles said. There’s no minimum order required, just a weekly delivery fee. “You could just decide you want milk, cream, eggs and bacon to show up every week and you’re good. Put in a subscription.”

For the summer, a new herb subscription is also available.

“For 23 weeks of the summer season, you get a gallon bag of bunches of fresh-grown herbs. Once you get into the cooler season, there might be some dried herbs mixed in. Sometimes there might be edible flowers or a bulb of garlic or pesto toward the end — something to put in your freezer,” Stiles said.

Subscription delivery occurs every Wednesday and Thursday, throughout the county.

As for pushing along the effort to accept SNAP benefits as a CSA, as well as make it easier for other CSAs to do the same, Stiles said that she is part of a focus group that meets regularly to move the initiative forward.

“Since the pandemic, the number of people in Pennsylvania who receive supplemental nutrition assistance has grown phenomenally. I understand what an impact that has on your budget. You just don’t have expendable money to spend at the farmers market,” Stiles said. “Since that’s something that has affected me personally, it’s something I appreciate and I want to make sure I do whatever I can to accommodate (SNAP benefits).”

For those who still prefer the traditional CSA model, GroundWork Farms is accepting orders for its summer shares, with delivery starting May 31 and running for 23 weeks. Visit www.groundworkfarms.com for more information.

Holly Riddle is a freelance food, travel and lifestyle writer. She can be reached at holly.ridd@gmail.com.