Connecting Culture and Community: Introducing Our Farm-Fresh Produce Subscription Program (CSA)

“My favorite has been the poblano peppers. My spaghetti turned out so delicious! My least favorite has been the beets, but I think that’s because I don’t know many ways to prepare them. What would I like them to include? More tomatoes, both red tomatoes and tomatillos, as well as red and yellow bell peppers.” shared one happy participant in CATA’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative.

CATA recently completed a unique CSA pilot designed to bring fresh, culturally meaningful food directly to our neighbors.

Traditional CSA models connect consumers directly with local farms through weekly produce shares. Our version expands that idea, tailoring every share to reflect the rich culinary traditions and preferences of the community we serve. By growing and sourcing items that resonate with our roots, we are ensuring that fresh food feels familiar, nourishing, and personal.

To bring this vision to life, we partnered with a local farmer.

Land Sharing & Expansion

The farmer rented a portion of his farmland directly to CATA, allowing us to significantly expand our growing capacity and plant specific culturally relevant crops.

Direct Purchasing & Variety

In addition to growing our own crops, we purchased produce directly from our partner farm to provide a rich and diverse selection of fresh items in each weekly share.

This collaboration allows us to combine our community-focused mission with experienced local farming knowledge, creating a resilient local food network.

Over 10 weeks, 13 participants received weekly shares containing 8 to 12 pounds of fresh produce. In return, they shared their experiences and provided valuable feedback to help us improve the program.

We are currently analyzing the feedback from this pilot and exploring how we can strengthen the initiative and expand it to serve more community members next season at an affordable cost.

If you are interested in joining, learning more, or getting involved with CATA’s Food Justice Program and community garden, please contact Kathia Ramírez, Program Co-Coordinator, at kramirez@cata-farmworkers.org.

We are also working on a catchy, lively name for the initiative, so stay tuned and follow us on social media!