Traditional CSA programs:

Wilson Farm - Lexington
Wilson's is a 130-year-old family farm in Lexington, with a second branch in Litchfield, NH. The Wilson Farm CSA offers small or large produce shares for 16 weeks, as well as fish and flower shares. With more than 125 crops, Wilson Farm makes an effort to offer a range of their different produce. All items must be picked at one of the farm’s two locations on specified days, with fish and flower shares every other week. Prices start at $100 for a flower share, with 10% CSA member discount on other items at the farm on pickup day.

Stillman’s Farm - Various locations
With pickup available at their New Braintree and Lunenburg farms as well as 15 Boston-area locations, Stillman's CSA is very convenient. Starting in June and ending in October, CSA members can choose from two sizes of produce boxes, starting at $400 for the season. In addition, the Stillmans’ children offer a meat CSA at Stillman Quality Meat, and a winter CSA at Still Life Farm with herbs, wreaths, and specialty fruit. The farm's CSA members also receive $15 in credit to use at the farmers markets, a reusable bag, and an opportunity to harvest produce that wasn’t collected before the frost.

Organic CSA programs:

Drumlin Farm - Lincoln
A Mass Audubon site in Lincoln, Drumlin is a farm that practices organic farming practices, as well as a fun place to take the kids. Drumlin Farm offers spring, summer and fall CSA shares, starting at $100 for the spring program. The summer CSA lasts 20 weeks, with both half and full share options. In addition, Drumlin Farm has a winter CSA program between November and January. All pickups are at the farm on Wednesdays or Thursdays.

Lindentree Farm - Lincoln 
Lindentree is a 25-year-old certified organic farm Members pick up their shares at the farm in Lincoln on specified days. Lindentree offers large and small shares for 20 weeks. Shares start at $740 for a small share, with a $50 new-member fee. Unlike many of the other CSAs listed, Lindentree Farm requires a work commitment of eight hours per family between March and November.

A fall vegetable share from Red Fire Farm.

Red Fire Farm - Montague and Granby 
One of Massachusetts’ first certified organic farms, Red Fire has something for everyone. Members can order shares of summer produce, fall, winter or spring vegetables, summer fruits, fall apples, pastured eggs, mushrooms, and medicinal herbs. Summer shares last for 20 weeks and start at $490.

Siena Farms - Various locations
Siena is a family operation with 50 acres of farmland in each location, and provides produce to some of Boston’s finest restaurants. Siena Farms practices sustainable farming practices, rejecting herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers, but the farm is not certified organic. Siena Farms offers a lot of fun options for families: four seasonal shares, multi-season shares, multi-year shares, as well as specialty shares for kids, tomato lovers, mushroom lovers, and sweet corn and fruit and sunflower fans. CSA members can choose to pick up from 22 Boston area locations, or choose a home delivery option. Prices for a 12-week seasonal share start at $750.

Waltham Fields members can round out their weekly shares with pick-your-own crops.

Waltham Fields Community Farm - Waltham
This certified organic farm in Waltham contributes 20% of their harvest to Boston area food assistance programs. Members can choose from 20- or 10-week shares with summer, winter ,and flower share options. At Waltham Fields, farmers bring in a harvest of 10 to 15 different crops weekly, and members choose six to nine of the vegetables to pack up themselves. Due to the changing availability of the crops, members can also round out their weekly share with pick-your-own crops. Prices start at $700 for a 20-week summer share (10-week shares are sold out), and half-price for low-income households.

Alternative CSA programs:

Farmers to You is an online, farm-to table grocer that fosters partnership between families and farmers.

Farmers to You is an excellent alternative to the typical CSA program. An online market with local, small-scale foods from New England farmers, Farmers to You allows members to receive fresh and seasonal foods year round. Items include fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, pet food, dairy and eggs, and pantry and bakery products. Users choose the nearest pickup location, place a weekly order, and then pick up food later in the week. Farmers to You also offers delivery service for $12 to families in the greater Boston area if none of the 25 pickup sites work. Prices vary depending on the order, with a $40 per week minimum.

Boston Organics is not technically a CSA, but works in a similar fashion, offering food from multiple farms to provide year-round organic fruits and vegetables. Users choose different sized boxes priced from $27, with all fruit or vegetables, two-thirds fruit or vegetable, or half of each. Items in the boxes come from around the world, including many from New England, and are delivered to your door weekly on a specific day. Should you only want local ingredients, Boston Organics offers a Dogma box with items from New England farmers. The bonus for Boston Organics users is that they can state preferences, and therefore receive none of the items they hate. Users can also add grocery add-ons.

The Neighborhood Farm offers local food from their Wayland farm with a different delivery model than many CSAs. CSA members visit any of The Neighborhood Farm’s farmers' market locations at their convenience and choose the items they want from the stand. They are allowed to take what they want, and can take as much as they want. Members prepay for the year, and the food they take is deducted from their account. They can visit a stand daily and buy nothing but tomatoes, or they can visit once a year and buy a wide variety of items. Markets are open in Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, Needham, and the Wayland farm site from March until New Year’s Eve. Farmers market shares start at $150, with discounts for signups between November and March.

Top photo: A rainbow of a summer share from Red Fire Farm.. All photos courtesy of the farms.