Fresh and Local CSA is pleased to join other farms from around the country for National CSA Sign-Up Day on Feb. 28. The day encourages food consumers to buy a share of their local cooperative farm’s harvest for the 2015 season, a buying model known as Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA.

CSA has become an important model to support local agriculture since it was introduced to the United States in the 1980s and since grown to over 6,000 farms across the country. To join a CSA, members buy a share of the harvest in the Winter and Spring and then get a box of local produce each week throughout the growing season.

“CSAs are the most authentic connection between a farmer and eater available. CSA members get the freshest, high quality, seasonal local produce, grown without GMOs or chemicals, but they also get a direct connection to their farmer and the farm. This model is economically important to farmers because they can grow with confidence knowing that they have a market for their produce ahead of time,” says Simon Huntley from Small Farm Central, a technology company that works with CSA farms across the country, and the founder of National CSA Sign-up Day.

Feb. 28 was chosen as National CSA Sign-up Day because this day is the most popular day to sign up for CSA shares according to the 2014 CSA Farming Report. Buying a CSA share in late winter is important because farmers are making the capital investments for this year’s harvest now and the CSA model means they do not need to finance these costs with costly credit.

To encourage local food fans to buy a share on National CSA Sign-Up Day, Shepherdstown’s Fresh and Local CSA is offering a one-day 10 percent discount on Feb. 28.

“Sign-up is easy,” says farmer Allan Balliett. “To learn more and to join us for the 2015 season, you can reach us at www.FreshAndLocalCSA.com or call us at 304.876.3382 or email us at info@freshandlocalcsa.com. Payment can be done by check or credit card.”

To learn more about National CSA Sign-Up Day and the CSA model, visit www.csasignupday.com.