Fresh Produce Delivered: 9 CSA Farm Boxes for LA Families
by Jennifer O'Brien
Get all your favorite fruits and veggies (think sweet red peppers, corn on the cob, crisp apples and more), while supporting local farms in Southern California. Read on for our roundup of the best farm boxes available for pickup and delivery in Los Angeles.
Launched by a husband and wife at the beginning of the pandemic (literally 11 days after LA initiated it's "Safer at Home" order), Coldwater Farm Hub connects local farmers to the community by providing curated and pre-packed farm boxes. The family-run farms they support don't use pesticides or chemicals.
How it Works: Orders may be placed in advance and can be picked up from the family’s farm tent in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood every Sun. between 7 a.m.–10 a.m. In addition to Farm Boxes, they also offer fresh nuts, breads, cheese and more, which can be purchased a la carte.
Price: The Mini Farm Box cost $30 and includes 4-6 vegetables/fruits and 3 baskets of strawberries or a dozen eggs. The standard Farm Box costs $45 and include one dozen eggs, along with fruits and veggies.
Providing some of the freshest and most flavorful produce around, County Line Harvest runs its SoCal operations out of Thermal, California. Their CSA boxes are filled with a diverse array of certified organic, seasonal veggies that rotate weekly based on what’s available in the field.
How it Works: Customers can order directly through the County Line Harvest website and arrange to pick up their boxes curbside at County Line Harvest pop-ups around LA. You can also arrange for pickup or delivery through these local retailers.
Price: The Family CSA Box is $40 and includes a mix of salad and cooking greens, baby roots, culinary herbs, and a rotating lineup of specialty seasonal crops. The Original CSA Farm Box is $25 and includes 12 freshly hand-harvested selections.
Unlike other traditional CSA programs, Huarache Farms has launched CSA boxes with greater flexibility. Customers get to order items they want on the weeks they want them from a weekly menu available online. There is no minimum order amount, and offerings are based on what’s in season and current availability.
How it Works: You can order your custom CSA box every Tues. starting at 11:30 a.m. Deliveries are available for certain areas but customers can also pick up boxes at the Atwater Village Farmers’ Market on Sun. between 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Price: Items are priced individually. Delivery fees are free for all orders over $30, otherwise fees vary anywhere from $2–$5 depending on location.
In partnership with various farms in the area, LA-based Flamingo Estate offers choice selections of locally-grown organic seasonal fruits and vegetables. Enjoy a rotating selection of the week’s harvest, including heirloom lettuces, root vegetables and more. Along with the produce, you'll also get creative recipes (like smashed beets with herby ranch!) from the Chef at Flamingo Estate. But that's not all—don't miss out on the candles, facial mists, soaps and olive oils that also available for purchase from the famed estate.
How it Works: Orders need to be placed by 9 p.m. on Wed. for Fri. delivery. Delivery is every Fri. from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Price: Purchases start at $25 for a medium box that feeds up to 2 people for the week. The large box costs $40 and feeds a family of 5 for a week. Choose the Organic Orchard Box for $45 and you'll receive a rotating selection of the best fruit from Windrose Farms or try the Organic Artisanal Mushroom Box for $25 that includes approximately 1lbs of Blue Oyster (Pleurotus Ostreatus), Pink Oyster (Pleurotus Djamor), or other surprises depending on the season.
Good Life Organics delivers organic, high-quality produce to customers with weekly deliveries from local farmers. They also donate 5 percent back from every box to local participating schools.
How it Works: Depending on your needs, you can choose weekly or every-other-week boxes. The subscription includes 5-12 types of seasonal foods and varies week-to-week but you can catch a preview of what's coming via this link. Order by Wed. by 5 p.m. to make this week's selection. You can add on avocados, carrots, extra fruit and fresh herbs to your box. There are delivery and pick-up locations all around town.
Price: A Half Box includes 8-12 varieties of fruits and veggies for $29.50 while the Family Box costs $51.50 includes 12-19 varieties of the good-for-you produce. They also have specialty boxes including the Fruit Lovers for $51.50 and their Snack Size for $18.95 which is perfect for school lunches and you guessed it, snacks.
Farm Fresh to You partners with local farms and artisans to deliver the season’s best mix of 100% certified organic produce and specialty farm products right to your door. Each box comes with delish recipes, tips on keeping produce fresh and the option to customize your order online. There’s even an option to donate a box to a local food bank in need.
How it Works: Choose your style of box, make any changes or customize your selections, add-on hand-crafted jams, pasture-raised eggs and artisanal olive oil if you would like, and then order for delivery. You can change your subscription frequency, pausing weeks you don't need it or are away on vacation, or the size box you would like.
Price: The Mixed Fruit & Veggie Box is $27.50 up to $61 for 6-8 people; a traditional CSA Box is $35-$49 while their Snack Pack starts at $38 for 5 people.
It’s no doubt your family has visited Underwood Family Farms before or perhaps your kids have taken a field trip there. Not only is it an idyllic spot to escape from city life, it’s also a working farm that offers farm produce boxes for pick-up and delivery. Box contents change every two weeks but you can view what you'll be receiving on the Healthy Harvest Box page.
How it Works: Order online at least 48 hours in advance to reserve your CSA box.
Price:Healthy Harvest Boxes are $45 each and can be picked up at the Moorpark or Somis locations, or can be shipped directly to your home via FedEx.
The South Central Farmers’ Cooperative is a grassroots economic development of the South Central Farmers’ Health & Education Fund, committed to empowering local communities and giving community members access to high quality organic produce all from a single farm in Bakersfield.
How it Works: Choose from one time, monthly or yearly box subscriptions. Orders are available for home delivery on Sun. in the LA area or may be picked up at a various locations from Culver City to DTLA. Orders must be placed by 9 p.m. on Fri. to be fulfilled by the following Sun.
Price: The boxes are offered on a sliding scale meaning each item has two different prices. They encourage subscribers to purchase at the highest level they can afford to help sustain the farm. Full-size and mini CSA boxes are available with one-time Mini Boxes starting at $17 (or $19 if you can afford it).
Based out of Oxnard for over 50 years, Tamai Family Farms provides local and sustainable produce at affordable prices for everyone.
How it Works: Order your box at least 36 hours in advance and add-on a smorgasbord of fruits, veggies, and herbs. Delivery as well as pick-up options at various participating farmer's markets.
Price: A large Family Box is $25 and includes Swiss chard, kale, romaine, parsley, cauliflower, broccoli, and 3 pack of strawberries and goes up to $65 for Gloria’s Bag, which includes a bounty of fruits, veggies, and herbs packed in a reusable bag.
