Central Oregon Farm Share Program

2013 Program Description

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Central Oregon Farm Share Program. The goal of this program is to provide limited income residents with financial support to participate in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, otherwise referred to as “Farm Share”. This financial support is made possible by Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council through a grant from Meyer Memorial Trust,and the participating CSA farms and food businesses.

Information about the Farm Share Program:

What is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?

Farms offer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, which are prepaid subscriptions to the farm’s produce for a season. Most CSA’s provide shareholders a basket of farm-fresh, seasonal produce every week during the summer months. Shares vary from farm to farm, sometimes including eggs, cheeses, bread, and meat.

Being a CSA member allows you to know that you are eating fresh, healthy food and that you are supporting a local farm. The pre-paid CSA arrangements are a source of financial security for Central Oregon’s farmers. With the cost of a CSA share, members help pay for seeds, equipment maintenance, and labor, and help disperse the financial risks of crop failures. CSA invites members to join a farm community to share in the experiences of growing, eating, and celebrating deliciousfarm-fresh food.

How does the Central Oregon Farm Share Program Work?

This program is a cost-sharing program that offers financial support to low-income Central Oregonians to purchase a CSA share. The program is available to residents who live at or below 185% of the federal poverty income limit. Participants receive a 50% subsidy on the total cost per share per week up to a $12(up to a maximum of $500 per year per applicant).

What is considered low-income? We use the 2012 Federal Poverty Guidelines which are considered to be 185% of poverty which is the equivalent of a household monthly gross income of:
Single Person: $931Couple: $1,261Family of 3: $1,591 Family of 4: $1,921 Family of 5: $2,251
Family of 6: $2,581
For more information about these guidelines please visit:

What is in a typical CSA share?

Most CSA shares are available during the summer months and include a variety of seasonal vegetables. However, there are increasing options to CSA programs, with variations in seasons, products, share sizes, and membership requirements. Here are the different variables you may encounter when looking for a CSA program:

  • Share Size: Shares vary by farm but generally feed 2-4 people.
  • Share Products: Farm-fresh fruits and vegetables are the most typical products you will find in a CSA share; however, you may also receive eggs, meat and cheese.
  • Share Season: Most CSA shares occur in the summer; however, there is a winter food share option.
  • Pick-up vs. Delivery: Some CSA shares are delivered to pick-up sites in a number of towns, some can even deliver to your house (usually with some additional cost). Other CSA farms ask members to come to the farm to pick-up their shares.
  • Share Cost: We will pay 50% of the total cost of the share per week (up to $12/share per week), you will need to pay the difference, which ranges between $10 and 20. If you would like to add additional food products to your share, feel free to discuss this with your farmer.

Who pays for the subsidy?

Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council is providing subsidies through the Cultivating a Local Food System project grant funded by Meyer Memorial Trust.

As a Farm Share participant, who do I pay? Do I have to pay all at once?

Once your participation in the Program is confirmed, you can make payment arrangements directly with your CSA farmer. Your payment should be sent directly to your farmer.

How do I find a participating farm?

You can find a listing of CSA farms in your area by visiting our website at:

There are currently 3CSA farms that participate in the program and one food business that provides CSA shares in the off-season.

Can I choose which farm I partner with?

We will choose the farm that delivers to the city that you live in. If you have a particular farmer in mind, please let us know (see question 4 on the application).

What if I do not know of a particular farm?

If you do not have a preference for a specific farm, we will look for a farm that has a convenient pick-up location close to your address. You may list other towns that you frequently travel to (i.e. for work, errands, etc.) if you would like us to also look for a farm in those towns.

Is there an application deadline?

Applications are accepted all year and are funded in the order they are received. A waiting list will be available each year if needed.

What happens to my application if there are no shares available when I apply?

If your application is received after we have allocated all of the Farm Share funds for a given season, it will be temporarily put on a waiting list in case shares become available. If shares are not available this year, you are encouraged to apply again the following season.

For more information about the Central Oregon Farm Share Program, or to find an application please visit:

COIC Farm Share Program

email:
phone: 541-504-3307

Mail: 334 NE Hawthorne Ave, Bend OR 97701