Click here to visit the Grasshoppers CSA blog. Be sure to check it out for recipes, farmer contributions and other goodies.

Community Supported Agriculture and Grasshoppers

Community Supported Agriculture is the concept of people supporting a farm with a direct investment, and sharing in the return of the harvest. Their relationship with the farm, the fresh seasonal food that comes in the boxes every week, and sharing in the risks that make for a bountiful or poor harvest all connect them to the place where they live. Meanwhile, the farm family has resources and a secure market throughout the year.

Grasshoppers has improvised on this model, to offer a multi-farm, all-natural and organically grown program that provides beef, chicken, pork, milk, cheese, and eggs as well as produce. Many of our CSA farms also have their own CSAs and sell at Farmers' Markets or other outlets. Our program provides them with a stable market and fair prices for the additional crops they can produce, creating another stream of income on the farm.

The income generated for Grasshoppers helps us pursue the new frontiers of local food opportunity, such as hospitals, schools, and other institutions. Our farmer-owned business is dedicated to building a local food economy on all levels, and we enthusiastically invite you to join us!

About the Farms

By becoming a member, you will be supporting over thirty family farms who supply the Grasshoppers' CSA, all located in Kentucky or southern Indiana. Produce is grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides. Although many of the farms have chosen not to become certified organic, we know them personally and will introduce them to you, through CSA materials and farm tours. We may substitute conventional items at times if needed to fill your box. These items will always be pointed out in the newsletter. All of the meat and dairy animals are raised out on pasture and are antibiotic, steroid and hormone free.

To apply for the CSA

Now you can submit your CSA application online here. You will have the option of paying by credit card over a secure server, or mailing in your payment or paying by credit card over the phone after the form is submitted.

If you prefer, click here to download our CSA Application, which you can then mail or fax to our office. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download Acrobat Reader.

Payment Options

• One Payment in Full

  Please send a check for the full amount of your share or charge the full amount to your credit / debit card. Please write the name of the primary contact person for your share on your check(s).

• Installment Plan

  The full amount of your share may be divided into two equal payments, due on the dates listed below. Please send two checks with your application, one with today's date, and the second post-dated for October 1st. The second check will not be deposited until the due date. If you are not familiar with post-dating checks, we assure you that banks will not cash a check until its listed date. This system helps us immensely with administration and lets us continue to offer a payment plan, so that the CSA is available to more people. Credit card payments not available with this option.

  #1 Today's Date   Amount $_______________ Check # _________________
  #3 Friday, Oct 1st   Amount $______________ Check # _________________

How To Pay

• By Credit Card

  Credit card payments can be made online after submitting the online application form, or by telephone at 502-708-1881. Visa and Mastercard are accepted. A fee of $15 applies to help us with the cost of processing.

• By Check

  Mail to:
  CSA Sign Ups
  c/o Grasshoppers Distribution
  1501 Portland Ave.
  Louisville, KY 40203

  Please make your check(s) payable to: Grasshoppers Distribution

Membership will be confirmed once payment is received.

The CSA has a limited number of memberships and is first come first serve.

The deadline for accepting applications and payments is Friday, May 1, 2010.

Late applications will have the option of being placed on the waiting list in case a membership opens up.

If a membership is not available, your payment will be promptly returned.

We recommend keeping a copy of this application for your records.

Once you've filled out the application, you can:

• mail it to Grasshoppers Distribution 1501 Portland Avenue Louisville, KY 40203
• fax the last four pages to (502) 708-1883