What is a CSA?

In a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), members sign up to support a local farm at the beginning of the season when purchases like seeds and soil mix need to be made but there is little income on the farm. In return, the member receives a box of whatever is most fresh and delicious from their local farmer every week of the season. 

What is the UIHC CSA pilot?

This pilot program will offer University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics employees the chance to pick up a CSA share on their way out of work, reducing trips to the grocery store and securing a Summer of high-quality, fresh produce for themselves and their families!

This pilot CSA share is slightly smaller than a traditional CSA share, offering employees a chance to test out a CSA. In addition to a bag of fresh veggies every week, members will receive an emailed weekly newsletter with recipe ideas and updates from the farm.

Share pricing 

Full share: $400 for 16 weeks of fresh veggies

Half share: $220 for 8 weeks of fresh veggies

Full share: The full share will meet the weekly produce needs of a household of 2-3 people (approximately $25 of fresh produce each week).

Half share:  The half share will meet the produce needs of a household of 1-2 people. Instead of offering two different sized shares each week, we offer every other week pick-up. Folks who sign up for the half share pick up the same exact amount of produce as the full share, but they pick it up every other week instead of on a weekly basis, for a total of 8 pick-ups.

Share contents

We grow about 50 different kinds of vegetables ranging from favorites like onions, carrots, and tomatoes to unique offerings like arugula, leeks, and swiss chard. Part of sharing the risk with the farmer in a CSA means that we are all – farmers and eaters – subject to nature’s rhythms! So while we cannot guarantee that a particular vegetable will appear in your share in a particular week, here’s an idea of what to expect:

June – spinach, radishes, turnips, bok choy, beets, scallions, kale, snap peas, arugula, lettuce/greens, kohlrabi

July – kale, lettuce, onions, green beans, eggplant, cucumber, carrots, beets, herbs (parsley, cilantro, basil)

August – Tomatoes, peppers, swiss chard, zucchini/summer squash, eggplant, cucumbers, garlic, tomatillo, ground cherry

September – tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, broccoli, potatoes, garlic, onions, leeks, spinach, lettuce/greens

Pick up location: Lot 73 (along Melrose Ave at the Finkbine Golf Course), Fridays from 5-6pm

 The CSA will last for 16 weeks, with the first pick-up on Friday, May 31, and the final pick-up on Friday, September 27, with 2 breaks in the middle (no pick-up the first week in July or the first week in August). 

More details about pick-up procedures are outlined in our member agreement, which you will receive after signing up online. Please feel free to reach out with any questions about picking up your CSA share.

Thank you so much for your interest in the UIHC Pilot CSA! Please fill out this google form to sign up. Once we receive your response, we will send you an email with with the CSA Member Agreement and details on how to complete your payment and officially register. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, and thank you again for your interest!