Aurora from Keewaydin Family Farm sneaks cherry tomatoes.

One of the original goals of the FairShare CSA Coalition was to work to make CSA affordable to everyone. We work to make sure our farmers get paid a fair price for their work, but also to make sure everyone can enjoy the health and social benefits of being a member of a CSA farm.

FairShare has initiated two programs, the Partner Shares Program and the CSA Healthy Rebates Program, that help keep CSA affordable for everyone, while still providing a fair price to the farmer.

FairShare’s Partner Shares Program began in 1993, just a year after the coalition was formed and continually works to improve access of fresh, organic vegetables. The Partner Shares Program provides financial and educational assistance to limited-income households to purchase CSA vegetable shares from endorsed CSA farms.  We are also eligible to accept SNAP benefits or your Quest card for payment for your CSA share through the Partner Shares Program.

The CSA Healthy Rebate Program formed out of a partnership between FairShare (then MACSAC) and Physicians Plus in 2006. Health insurance providers are recognizing and rewarding their members for proactive healthy choices, one being eating a healthy diet full of fresh vegetables. Now the Coalition has several Health Plan Partners that are providing cash rebates to their members for purchasing CSA vegetable shares from a Coalition farm.