The True Cost of Local Food

Aug 28, 2026

By Stephanie Oelsligle Jordan, Local Food Program Manager

Comparison with grocery store prices reveals farm boxes are the better bargain

Back in 2018 or 2019 — before the words “Covid” or “broken food chain” entered our vernacular — I wanted to know how my weekly box of organic produce from a local farm compared to purchasing those same items at the grocery store. (To be honest, part of this exercise was to prove my husband wrong, who thought for sure the farm produce was triple the cost of the grocery store.) When I received my box that week, I weighed my local farm items with my digital kitchen scale, trekked to the store, noted prices per pound on the equivalent organic produce, and did the math. The results were not too dramatic, but I had enough data to prove my point: the farm won the contest, coming in about a dollar cheaper than the grocery store.

Now that we’re in 2026, and prices have undoubtedly risen everywhere, I wanted to run this experiment again. For several years, I’ve been subscribing to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes from two different farms: Terra Firma Farm near Winters, and Eatwell Farm outside of Dixon. Both grow a wide array of organic vegetables and fruit. Because I get what’s growing right now (no picking and choosing), my lunches and dinners have, for the most part, landed squarely into “seasonal” meals.

The process was the same as seven years ago: One August afternoon I got out my digital scale and started weighing produce from my Terra Firma “Medium” box: 1 lb. peaches and nectarines, 2 lbs. 5 oz. heirloom tomatoes, 1 lb. purple grapes, 7 ¾ lbs. personal sized watermelons, 1 ¼ lbs. zucchini, 1 lb. carrots, 9 oz. green beans and 9 oz. gypsy peppers (similar to lunchbox peppers). I also had the opportunity to weigh out my neighbor’s “Large” size Terra Firma box, which had the same as above (except slightly larger quantities of each thing) plus a pound of serpent cucumbers (comparable to an English cucumber). Meanwhile, Eatwell’s box that week had 8 oz. of fresh basil, 1 bunch of swiss chard, 1.6 lbs. of yellow plums, 2 lbs. of nectarines, 2 ½ lbs. of mixed yellow squash and zucchini, a little over 2 lbs. of cucumbers, 2 lbs. gold potatoes, about 1 ¾ lbs. of turnips and 3 heads of garlic.

List in hand, I went to the grocery store, noted prices per pound (or looked them up on their website, if the actual item was not in the store) and plugged it all into a spreadsheet.  Here’s what I found:

FARM CSA BOX COST GROCERY STORE COST
Terra Firma Farm (medium box) $35.50 $42.63
Terra Firma Farm (large box) $46 $63.40
Eatwell Farm (one size box) $32 $57.63

I actually had done this same test a month prior, comparing two different grocery stores with Terra Firma’s box and found similar trends, with one store about 60% more expensive.

This analysis got me thinking about how one could apply several definitions to the “cost” of purchasing local food:

  • the actual dollar value cost
  • the cost of getting what is seasonal and not being able to choose your weekly produce (but I think our bodies probably need what’s growing now!)
  • the convenience (or burden) of driving to the pick up location in my neighborhood each week (although my neighbor and I often share this responsibility)
  • the environmental costs of food miles traveled (or not) and purchasing from farms practicing regenerative (or extractive/industrial) agriculture
  • the cost of time, doing a little research and more cooking at home with produce that may not be as familiar
  • the cost of avoiding cyclospora (sorry, I had to mention it!) because the produce is not caught up in a complex chain of trucking, distributors, warehouses, the grocery store, and (finally) your kitchen

For anyone unfamiliar with how a CSA works, it’s essentially an agreement between you and the farm. You pre-pay a sum (usually around $100-$200, with discounts for higher deposits), and the farm deducts the cost of the box each week as you receive your subscription. When your deposited sum is gone, the farm re-charges your credit card, pulls from Venmo, etc. On the designated day, you pick up your subscription from a centrally located site, take it home and get cooking. This structure helps the farmer, who often has upfront costs like seeds, compost, machinery repair, etc., before the harvest takes place. In exchange, you receive super fresh produce, often picked 24-48 hours before it lands at your local CSA pick-up site.

I understand that subscribing to a CSA box is not for everyone, but if you’re even moderately familiar with seasonal cooking and eating, this might be a great option for healthy eating while supporting the local economy and environment, and saving on your grocery bill. To get you started, check out our library of seasonal recipes and cooking videos!

Making it Meaningful: Marketing Local Food to Gen Z

Aug 28, 2026

By Manpreet Singh, Public Education Coordinator Fellow

Interested in learning more about marketing local food? Join the Solano Local Food System Alliance’s online forum from 4-5:30 pm Sept. 17 to hear what the research says and learn marketing approaches.

Register here

A shining sun, clear blue sky, and a busy quad. Around a table, Solano Community College students sampled peaches from a local farm and a grocery store, voted on which they liked better, and answered questions to help us understand their perspective on local food in Solano County. Additionally, they had the opportunity to learn about local food in Solano County and provide feedback to help raise awareness of products that are locally sourced.

When taste testing the peaches, students identified a significant difference in taste between the peach from the local farmer and the grocery store. There was an overwhelming preference for the peach from the local farm with students believing it tasted much “juicier” and “richer”, was “softer” and “sweeter”, and they could “taste the love”. This event provided meaningful insight into what attracts these students and other members of Gen Z to local food.

SuSol Local Food Program Manager Stephanie Oelsligle Jordan cut fresh samples of farm and store-bought peaches on demand for SCC students to taste test

Solano County is rooted in agriculture with over 700 farms growing produce such as almonds, walnuts, and tomatoes. Many of these farms produce large quantities of these products for national and international markets, with little remaining in the county. Solano is also home to a number of smaller family-run farms that are trying to serve the local market, as well as farms in the broader region that can offer fresh, seasonal products to local buyers. Past research has shown an established need to build awareness of the importance of locally grown food and the local food system to build the demand needed to support those farms and shift from an unsustainable system to one that is better for the environment and people’s health.

Gen Z — individuals born between 1997 to 2012 — is joining the active global workforce and wield significant purchasing power that can  shape global food systems and future food markets. This generation has grown up experiencing the extreme impacts of climate change and is the first digital generation — getting their information primarily from social media and online news outlets. Solano County has a growing Gen Z population that can play a significant role in growing our local food system and strengthen our communities.

Gen Z values sustainability, quality, and transparency and are one of the key groups that are on the frontline of advancing climate action and demand for sustainable practices. Through the power of social media, they have been exposed to videos about chemicals and additives added to their food and harmful practices in the supply chain from unsustainable agriculture practices to animal and human rights abuses. This has shaped desire and demand for more environmentally friendly sourced food, product integrity, and transparency about where food is coming from and what is in it. With Gen Z, there is a shift towards a moralized market. It’s not only about economic exchange, it is relational and ideological exchange around how food is produced in a way that aligns with their personal values.

Promoting locally grown food is a critical opportunity to shape the future of the food system and advance environmental, social, and economic sustainability benefits. This includes:

  • Reduced food miles: fewer emissions are released as vehicles travel shorter distances.
  • Health and taste: locally grown crops are often picked at peak ripeness, which means more nutritional value and taste is retained as nutrients and flavor are not lost during long distance transport.
  • Less risk of contamination: fewer steps between the farm and consumers and more transparency on where the crops are sourced from and practices used to grow them
  • Local economy: creates jobs and keeps money in the local community
  • Resilient food supply: communities are more resilient to challenges in the global food supply and price fluctuations.
  • Environment and biodiversity: smaller farms often use regenerative, organic, or sustainable practices that are beneficial to soil quality, open spaces in the community, and protect biodiversity of our region.
  • Community: Trust and community bonds strengthen by connecting consumers directly to the individuals who grow their food

Opportunities exist to engage Gen Z in boosting local food systems that build long-term community health, support regional economies, create a sense of community and belonging, and ensure sustainable food systems — especially in the face of growing threats to our food supply. According to a 2025 survey, 72% of Gen Z consumers reported feeling strongly about buying locally grown produce when available, but only 45% reported actually buying more local produce. This highlights that there is already interest, but accessibility may be an issue.The interest for local produce was echoed with Solano Community College students indicating overwhelming interest in advocating for the local farmers’ peaches to be served in their cafeteria and an interest in traveling to the local farm to purchase these fruits.

Local food messaging is a critical method that connects consumers to products. For Gen Z, local food messaging needs  to connect with their values. At Solano Community College, we tested 4 local food marketing messages:

  • If you try it, you’ll buy it!
  • Taste the difference!
  • One bite changes everything!
  • Taste local! Love local! 

Of these 4 messages, the one that resonated the most with students was “Taste local! Love local!”. When asked why, students emphasized the inclusion of the word “local” because it resonated with their desires and values to support their local community.

Messaging helps promote locally sourced food by communicating the product’s value and building consumer interest. Based on insights from the Solano Community College taste test, messaging should not only emphasize the environmental, economic, and health benefits of purchasing locally sourced food but also reflect the local and community aspect. Emphasizing that product came from the local community, along with all the benefits, ensures that the product resonates with their values while helping Gen Z consumers understand the benefits of their actions when they purchase locally sourced food.

A critical method to reach Gen Z is through using social media. This group is the first digital generation, as they have been deeply shaped by the rise and constant presence of online digital connections and utilize social media for access to information, the newest trends, and connections. Social media plays a significant role in shaping their consumer behavior by exposing them to the newest trends via influencers and videos about what is happening in different areas. 

Another method to reach Gen Z is to build and strengthen those community connections. This means being a constant presence at locations such as farmers markets or community events. Local farmers can hear from Gen Z what they want and build trust and community connections that can have a far reaching impact on the local food system. 

Food has the power to bring the people together, and in a region like Solano County where community is emphasized, supporting locally grown food can make us stronger. 

You know what they say: “Taste local! Love local!

All About Agritourism

Oct 29, 2025

By Stephanie Oelsligle Jordan, Local Food program manager

While purchasing crops and products from local farms is an important part of supporting our local food system, it is only one way to support the work and livelihood of local farmers. Another way is agritourism, which puts farms and farmers face-to-face with community members who can grow to know them.

Agritourism can take a lot of forms. Some examples include a u-pick, farm dinner, farm tour, harvest event, etc. Small and mid-sized farmers are utilizing agritourism more and more to supplement their income as farmers and help make ends meet.

The Solano Local Food System Alliance is dedicated to supporting an environmentally sustainable, economically viable, socially just and equitable local food system in Solano County. The Alliance brings together a variety of stakeholders, organizations and agencies that work within the local food system, from producers to retailers to food access providers. An important part of the Alliance’s work is education. It holds regular educational forums to learn more about topics that intersect with the local food system.

On Oct. 2, the topic was agritourism. In Solano County, the Suisun Valley region has been employing agritourism for many years, but other regions have not. The Alliance wanted to understand more — what agritourism is, how it can benefit farmers, its economic impacts and best practices from around the region.

The Alliance invited Rachael Callahan, Statewide Agritourism Coordinator for UC SAREP (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program), and Olivia Henry, UC Cooperative Extension‘s Regional Food Systems Advisor, to address these questions during the online forum, which you can watch in the video above. Also included is a short interview with Lisa Howard, owner and winemaker of Tolenas Winery, who explained how agritourism began in Suisun Valley and the benefits it has for growers in the region today.

Agritourism Resources

Click on the links below for additional resources on agritourism

Nourishing Solano County: A Collaborative Vision for Medically Tailored Meals

Oct 25, 2023

By Noah Galgan, Program Manager

Stakeholders meet to discuss how medically tailored meals could work in Solano County

In an era where the healthcare landscape is constantly evolving, the concept of “food as medicine” is gaining traction. The notion that the right diet can be pivotal in preventing and managing chronic illnesses is a scientifically proven fact. A group of Solano County stakeholders is bringing this knowledge to bear on an exciting journey to nourish health through medically tailored meals (MTM).

At its core, an MTM initiative in Solano County revolves around the idea that providing individuals with carefully crafted, nutritionally sound meals can have a profound impact on their well-being and support recovery from serious illnesses. These meals are not just about sustenance; they are about empowerment, about offering individuals the tools they need to take control of their health.

MTM initiatives are gaining traction all over the United States. We have seen many great examples of what MTM could look like through the dedicated work of groups such as the Food is Medicine Coalition. The coalition is an association of nonprofit medically tailored food and nutrition service providers that supports research-based interventions, advances public policy, promotes efficacy research for nutrition services, and shares best practices in providing medically tailored meals. This provided a foundation to build upon, and this is where we started the conversation in Solano County. The Solano Local Food System Alliance hosted an insightful educational panel on medically tailored meals back in February, with speakers from the Ceres Community Project and Project Open Hand. From this panel, the Solano MTM initiative gained a foundational understanding of what medically tailored meals are and opened the door for further discussion.

Solano County Ecosystem of Care

A medically tailored meals program has yet to be fully established in the county, but initiatives are already underway. A diverse group of stakeholders from various sectors have rallied together, all driven by a shared vision. In late April, the group came together to discuss the vision of an ecosystem of care. We realized it is not just about the healthcare providers or the chefs creating the meals — it’s about everyone coming together, recognizing the vital role they can play in this ecosystem, and understanding that they collectively have the power to make an impact. We also realized how complex the legal and logistical framework is for this vision, since it involves insurance, patient privacy, strict healthcare regulations, ingredient sourcing, meal production and delivery, and supporting services. Some of the community stakeholders that have joined the initiative so far are listed below.

  • Healthcare Providers and Administration
    • Solano County Public Health
    • Touro University
  • Culinary Experts, Chefs, and Meal Providers
    • Meals on Wheels Solano County
    • Thistle
  • Local Farmers, Food Suppliers, and Transportation
    • Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
    • Food is Free Bay Area 
  • Collaboration, Coordination, and Policy
    • Sustainable Solano
    • Innovative Health Solutions
    • Solano Local Food System Alliance (Includes a wide variety of stakeholders committed to fulfilling the mission of creating an environmentally sustainable, economically viable, socially just and equitable local food system in Solano County. Many of these MTM stakeholders are also Alliance members)
    • The Food Agriculture and Nutrition Network of Solano County (FANNS)

Ecosystem Updates

Thistle – President Shiri Avnery said Thistle is beginning a fourth round of producing medically tailored meals in partnership with Kaiser Permanente for an MTM pilot study. The pilots are a 12-week whole-person care model that seeks to include wrap-around services such as nutrition consults and regular wellness check-ins. Thistle is interested in continuing to be a local meal provider for MTM and would like to participate in more pilot studies to help with development and collaboration for the logistics of an MTM program. One area of discussion is navigating the higher price points of Thistle meals that aim to be whole-food, plant-based meals from California growers. There is an opportunity for meal delivery outsourcing within the county as this would help reduce costs per meal for patients. Also, is there potential for a patient-selected tiered pricing model, where patients can choose a standard plan (covered by insurance) or premium plan (an added cost per meal beyond what insurance would cover). Cultural preferences for MTM is a tension point, and some recipients who are not used to a plant-based diet may find these meals unappealing.

Meals on Wheels Solano County – Executive Director Laurie Hartmann offered an exciting update on a local and state level regarding Meals on Wheels. MOWSC has been in the process of building a new production facility and is ready to break ground after acquiring all necessary funding. The new facility will be on Union Avenue in Fairfield, and scheduled for completion in spring 2024. With this new facility, they intend to include a small-scale commercial kitchen for use by community partners, such as Sustainable Solano for youth culinary instruction. On a much larger scale, Laurie shared about the upcoming work of Meals on Wheels California in the MTM space. MOWCA hosted a learning collaborative with all MOW program directors around MTM initiatives. There is a high probability MOWCA could become a one-stop-shop MTM wraparound service provider for healthcare providers and would potentially distribute administrative roles to leading regional agencies such as Solano County (NorCal Lead). This effort within the MTM space could start as early fall 2024.

Innovative Health Solutions (IHS) – Founding CEO and CFO Norma Lisenko shared an update on the work IHS has been doing and will be doing in the coming months around medically tailored meals. The team is currently wrapping up a 12-week MTM pilot with La Clinica Vallejo, which provided 50 community participants with weekly ready-made meals made by Provisions. While we look forward to the final report from this pilot toward the end of this year, Norma shared the importance of access to culturally relevant prepared foods. All the hard work that goes into a meal to be carefully prepared and transported can end up going to waste if people don’t like the food they are eating. IHS is set to receive additional funding through the Solano County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) to further its MTM efforts over the coming months through a 12-week pilot program focused on maternal health.

Food is Free Bay Area – Through the work of Heather Pierini and Alma Munoz, FIFBA has participated in two separate MTM pilots for IHS. FIFBA actively participated in both pilots in a transportation provider role for MTM meals and grocery boxes. The first pilot was the 12-week program at La Clinica Vallejo for 50 participants: the team provided distribution of refrigerated meals prepared by Provisions and custom weekly grocery boxes to the La Clinica Vallejo distribution site. The second IHS pilot is a 12-week MTM program with Partnership HealthPlan of California, in which ready-made meals were picked up from Thistle and delivered to participants’ homes twice a week, alongside packed grocery boxes. Heather shared that the biggest hurdle in these pilots was creating the necessary logistical infrastructure, including a delivery/logistics app for drivers, a food safety program through the FDA recommendations, food storage/movement equipment for the bagged/boxed foods, limitations of eco-friendly packaging (compostable cardboard packaging was not sturdy enough for participants to carry home). She also shared about their efforts to find a better participant-tracking system for participant meal selection, allergies, and delivery weeks.

Sustainable Solano – Sustainable Solano continues supporting the foundation for medically tailored meals in Solano County through stakeholder meetings and creating an action plan. Sustainable Solano will continue the collaborative work to form an ecosystem of care amidst community stakeholders and clarify roles of each stakeholder in the emerging vision.  Besides the ecosystem’s coordination role, Sustainable Solano sees its participation in the MTM vision through public education programs, especially targeting youth, which can help prevent diet-related illnesses in the future. They continue their public education efforts through monthly cooking classes focused on healthy local food and are set to receive funding under the Solano County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) for three youth wellness internship cohorts. These internships aim to educate Solano County youth about health and wellness through culinary and garden exploration.

Food for Thought

The beauty of collaborative efforts lies not only in celebrating successes but also in collectively addressing the challenges encountered along the way. We have discovered some thought-provoking areas that merit thoughtful consideration:

  • Exploration of the healthcare administration role (HIPPA compliance for patient records, billing, etc.) and capability to operate in the role.
  • How to generate access to additional pilot programs that foster collaboration and open feedback loops through diverse funding channels.
  • Exploration of providing health-forward meals that honor diverse cultural palates.

    These topics will likely be central to an upcoming virtual collaborative meeting around MTM in early January, as well as other topics offered by the partners working together on this process. We invite those interested who see a role for their organizations in these efforts to  reach out to Noah Galgan at noah@sustainablesolano.org to share more about your interest and what you can contribute to the conversation.

    A Step in the Right Direction

    This is just the beginning of fostering an ecosystem of care in Solano County. We are beyond excited to continue in this work and advocate for community-based collaborations for the good of the whole. Each community stakeholder brings a unique perspective and a passionate commitment to this initiative, and together, they are forging a path toward a healthier future for Solano County.

     

    CSA Farm Spotlight: Wilkinson Acres

    Nov 18, 2020

    By Sustainable Solano

    This is an ongoing series profiling local farms that have Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) available in Solano County. CSAs create a way for community members to buy a share of the harvest directly from local farmers. Customers pay a set amount and receive a box of seasonal produce or other farm products in return. Such arrangements help farmers receive a greater share of the money paid, bring customers fresh, local produce and promote health, community and the local economy.

    Mike and Courtney Wilkinson of Wilkinson Acres

    Mike and Courtney Wilkinson started thinking about their future together after they were married — and what they really wanted to do with their lives.

    “After a lot of discussion, we decided what we wanted more than anything was a lifestyle — one in which we could provide good, healthy food for our community while enjoying the freedoms (and responsibilities) of owning our own small business,” Courtney said.

    The two left their jobs as a building engineer and high school teacher and started Wilkinson Acres in Fairfield about a year ago, where they use low-till and organic practices to grow vegetables and fruit for their customers, which include restaurants, weekly visitors to their farm stand and, starting in January, CSA members.

    Below is a Q&A with Courtney about Wilkinson Acres:

    • Wilkinson Acres
    • Fairfield
    • 5 acres
    • 2019

     

    When did you start offering a CSA? Why was it important to offer?

    Our first ever CSA starts in January 2021! 2020 was a crazy year of pivoting due to COVID-19. The closure of many of our restaurant accounts required a shift in our business model towards our direct community. We realized that now more than ever it’s important for us to make healthy, organic food accessible to our immediate neighborhood and county. The CSA model allows our community to give us a boost at the beginning of the season, ensuring we can provide them with the best of our product for the 16-week season!

    Are there special perks for CSA members? Why do people tend to subscribe?

    There are definitely perks to being a member! For starters, all members get an extra 10% off at the farm stand (on-site), as well as a weekly Member Newsletter, featuring recipe ideas for the week’s produce. We’re working on more perks, in conjunction with some of our farm stand partner vendors. Stay tuned!

    What’s something that makes your farm stand out?

    Our organic certification. We’re certified organic by CCOF and, as far as we can tell, we are the only officially certified organic farm in the Fairfield/Suisun Valley area. We take a tremendous amount of pride in our organic transparency and the quality of our certified organic product. We are looking to implement even more organic and sustainable practices around the farm in the years to come.

    We use low-till growing practices to build soil health, which, in turn, grows better produce. Encouraging all the good bugs and bacteria to live in our soil by not tilling up their ecosystem and by adding in organic compost benefits the farmer and the plants. These beneficials, as we call them, help the plants take in and process nutrients, resulting in healthier, tastier food. Low-till farming is environmentally friendly, sustainable, and low-waste. It may not be the easiest way to farm, but we believe sustainable growing practices create better farms, food and families.

    Anything exciting on the horizon? What do you see happening and what do you want to see happen with interest in local food?

    The opening of our first CSA! We’re focusing hard on making the CSA kickoff in January an exceptional customer experience. Check out our website (WilkinsonAcres.com) for all the details.

    With regards to interest in local food — we’d love to see more! We’ve had the great fortune to start creating relationships with a lot of passionate foodies in Solano County, but we know there are so many more people in our county that can and should benefit from the fantastic variety in the local ag and hospitality industries.

    Anything else you’d like to add?

    A big huge thank you to all of our customers! It’s been a wild couple of years for all of us and we know we would not be here without them. We are so deeply grateful for the welcome we’ve received from the agricultural community in Solano County. If you haven’t visited us yet, come see us every Saturday, 8 am-noon at the farm stand [winter hours: 10 am-2 pm]. We’re looking forward to meeting you!

    Wilkinson Acres has its Solano County CSA drop site at the farm. Learn more about how to sign up here.

    Find out more about local CSAs here.

    CSA Farm Spotlight: Soul Food Farm

    May 7, 2020

    By Sustainable Solano

    This is an ongoing series profiling local farms that have Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) available in Solano County. CSAs create a way for community members to buy a share of the harvest directly from local farmers. Customers pay a set amount and receive a box of seasonal produce or other farm products in return. Such arrangements help farmers receive a greater share of the money paid, bring customers fresh, local produce and promote health, community and the local economy.

    Eggs from Soul Food Farm

    Soul Food Farm, off of Pleasants Valley Road in Vacaville, sits on land that was a family farm since 1850 and had lain fallow for 30 years before Eric and Alexis Koefoed bought it in 1997. They officially named it Soul Food Farm in 2000. Known for its pastured eggs and olive oil, the farm started by selling eggs to the community and then to restaurants. “It all happened so fast we didn’t have time to write a business plan, but the mission was always to grow clean, fresh, real food that people could afford,” Alexis said.

    There is a farm stand at the front of the property and the farm is often host to workshops and events, including the annual Women of Abundance conference. When COVID-19 upended the way local farmers were distributing their products, the Koefoeds took the steps necessary to start selling products from a variety of farmers directly to consumers through the Soul Food Farm CSA.

    Below is a Q&A with Alexis about Soul Food Farm:

     

    • Soul Food Farm
    • Vacaville
    • 55 acres
    • Established 2000

     

    When did you start offering a CSA? Why was it important to offer?

    In this current pandemic and shelter in place, the closure of small businesses, restaurants and markets has had a huge impact on farmers, ranchers and food producers (chefs) and the ability for people to access nutrient-dense food. It seemed imperative to pivot and to build a CSA that farmers could come together on and sell their food — a way to connect farmers to customers and get good food out into the community.

    Are there special perks for CSA members? Why do people tend to subscribe?

    We have set it up a little differently than traditional CSAs. It is still operated on the premise of Community Supported Agriculture, but there is no membership fee. I wanted the flexibility for people to join with ease, and also it wasn’t practical to have a membership fee with so many items from different farms on the site. This way, they can purchase just what they want and the system I’ve designed handles all the orders and inventory. That being said, I may change it in the future. The story is still unfolding.

    What’s something that makes your farm stand out?

    I don’t know if Soul Food Farm stands out as different from any other small farm, but the guiding principles of the farm have always been simple: That the farm should embody beauty, form and function. That simple was best. Our strength was in staying small and diverse. There have been times over the years when we drifted from those core principles and beliefs, but we always found our way back. And there would never have been a Soul Food Farm if it wasn’t for the customers and farm friends who have been part of our story.

    Anything exciting on the horizon? What do you see happening and what do you want to see happen with interest in local food?

    I think this upending of our economy in many ways is a reason to feel some excitement. We are watching people come together and exhibit great acts of kindness. It’s a painful adjustment, of course, but it’s forcing us all to be creative and inspired about how we view our businesses. We have the possibility now to create a new system of food equity:

    • A sound regional food system that includes access, transportation, a closer connection between farmers and consumers.
    • The understanding that food is our common denominator and is not a commodity but a human right.
    • The uplifting of small and regional food production as opposed to large, clumsy and cruel.
    • Farmers in each region supporting food security in a more profound way and the community responding with financial support.

    The world is changing and it could be a wonderful moment to create truly regenerative systems. The old way of corporations controlling our food supply is no longer feasible. The fractures of that big ag system have been revealed. The smaller farmers and their advocates are picking up the work of feeding people, building new supply chains and working out how to alleviate food insecurity with an intensity like never before.

    Anything else you’d like to add?

    Soul Food Farm CSA is adding new farmers, ranchers and small business owners each week to our list. We are going to keep operating the CSA as long as needed to help bring farmers and customers together.

    The Soul Food Farm CSA is available for pickup at the farm on Saturdays. Orders go live Saturdays at 10 am and close Wednesdays at 5 pm. Learn more here.

    Find out more about local CSAs here.