Manna Cabanna 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 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, but they also get a direct connection to their farmer. This model is economically important to farmers, especially small and beginning 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 creator of National CSA Sign-up Day.

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 in on National CSA Sign-Up Day, Manna Cabanna is offering an Early Bird Special. Sign up and pay in full by March 31 for the 2015 summer/fall CSA and receive two additional weeks worth of shares within the 18-week program period.

To request a sign-up form send an email to info@mannacabanna.com or visit Facebook.com/MannaCabanna to sign-up directly.

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

–Submitted by Carol Lynn Jackson