Community supported agriculture continues to grow in popularity.

According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, Pennsylvania was in the top five states for CSAs, with 551 farms involved in CSAs at the time.

CSA, which stands for community-supported agriculture, is a model used by some farms to market their products directly to customers. Rather than picking up items a la carte at a farm stand or farmers market, customers typically buy a share of that season’s harvest.

CSA members usually commit to a greater investment in a local farm than they would if they just patronized that business occasionally. As a result, they have a greater stake in that farm’s success and are playing a larger role in helping to keep local agriculture thriving and local food available, according to Liam Migdail, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau spokesman.

Typically, CSA members purchase a share of the farm’s products before the season starts. Vegetable shares and fruit shares are popular options in the CSA model but there are also meat CSAs, dairy, bread, flowers, etc. Then members receive a box each week with assorted products. Often, the farm will deliver the boxes to certain pick-up locations where customers can get them, but there are several ways to do this. And there are plenty of variations. Sometimes multiple farms join together to offer a CSA, Migdail said.

Farmers benefit by having CSA members pay for their shares up front before the season, which not only helps provide cash flow for planting but gives farmers the certainty they will have a market for the products they produce. In addition, CSA members share in the risks that are normally shouldered entirely by the farmer, such as the potential of a lesser crop due to bad weather. Members benefit by having a regular supply of fresh, local food and by having a greater connection to the farm supplying that food, Migdail said.

The Central Pennsylvania Farm Share CSA is comprised of farmers from Blair, Huntingdon, Mifflin and Centre counties.

Restless Roots Farm, located in Mill Creek and owned by Casey VanNest and Ben Misko, serves as the “organizer” for the CSA, whose other participating farms include The Sinking Valley Organic Co-Op, Hostetler’s Naturals, Daniel and Susie Stoltzfus, and SylvanSun Farm.

“Our business is built on three core beliefs: sustainability, respect and collaboration. And we raise our produce, cut flowers and animals with the health of the land, ourselves and our customers in mind,” VanNest wrote on her farm’s website.

“We advocate tirelessly for the stability of our local food system and we hope that with collaborative efforts, we can all benefit from keeping our food chain short and equitable,” VanNest said.

VanNest is a native of Huntingdon and graduated from Great Commission School in Altoona in 2005. She earned a degree in art history from Lebanon Valley College in 2009. She then moved to Michigan, where she studied organic farming at Michigan State before she returned to Pennsylvania two years ago.

“I started as a flower farmer. Growing flowers is my passion,” she said. “When I lived in Michigan, I sold wholesale in the Detroit area.

“I wanted to grow cut flowers but I saw a need for vegetables in this area,” VanNest said. “I got real excited about farming. I love it. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur but nothing was that exciting. This is it. You are out in the field every day, you learn new things every day and learn skills. I had to learn to build things. I love the newness of every day, the learning experience — there is never a dull moment.”

VanNest is excited about the Central Pennsylvania Farm Share CSA.

“We try to keep it exciting every week and give people what they want. We have cucumbers, potatoes, head lettuce, corn — we throw in some fruit. We also have a neighbor who produces honey and we get eggs from another farmer,” VanNest said. “Our CSA is a collaborative nature. It is a better model for the farmer. A crop failure can happen anytime. If you work with three or four others, it takes the stress off of the farmer. Someone is investing in your farm. When you are working with other people, there is more room to breathe.”

Customer Alex Marino of Altoona enjoys the variety of products he receives from the CSA.

“I like it that they give me some vegetables I had never heard of, like Mexican sour gherkins. They are delicious. I am getting access to things you never come across in the store. She sends out emails telling you how to cook them; that is super,” Marino said. “I enjoy the different things we are getting to try and it is worth it. Their products are great, they are always fresh. Their tomatoes are better than what you get at the store, they taste better and last longer and they are not sprayed. It is all fresh and delicious.”

Kelly Powers of Tyrone enjoys the freshness.

“I am a business owner, so I like to support locally-owned businesses and I like supporting our community. I like natural products without chemicals. Fresh fruit and vegetables are what I want for health and wellness,” said Powers, owner of Sacred Fire LLC of Tyrone. “They have a nice variety and let us know each week what we are getting so I can plan menus. It has been great.”

VanNest said she expects the CSA to have about 50 customers this season, which runs for 18 weeks from early June through early October.

Shares, which include seven to 11 items each week, cost $500 for the 18 weeks, or about $28 a week.

“By skipping the grocery store, you are putting money directly in the farmers’ pockets and shortening the local food supply chain, while receiving a far superior and fresher product,” VanNest said. “I want to make sure people get the most out of their boxes. We need to make sure the consumer gets the most for their family.”

Shares can be picked up from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays beginning June 10 at The Moose Family Lodge, 1707 S. Ninth St., Altoona; beginning June 11 at the Pine Grove Mills Farmers Market, where VanNest is manager, or at the farm on Route 829 just off Route 22 in Mill Creek.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 964-7467.