The CSA is now SNAP-approved!

As of July 2021, Tucson CSA will now accept EBT cards for SNAP approved purchases of produce and food products from our store! SNAP/EBT – eligible purchases:

• Fruits, vegetables, berries, mushrooms
• Nuts, beans, seeds
• Bread, tortillas
• Meats, eggs, dairy
• Edible plants and seeds that produce food for the household

The process will be the same as any other check-out.

The CSA is now approved for Arizona Double Up Bucks!

The Double Up program is a dollar for dollar SNAP match: $1 for $1 incentive for shoppers using SNAP to buy produce.

Here is how it works at Tucson CSA: once a qualified member is asked to join, they will pay $60 for the entire 6 week subscription. Reimbursement from Double Up Food Bucks and Tucson CS-Aid funds will cover the remaining costs, ensuring the farmers get paid market value for the produce. You get the full 6-week cycle that costs $156 for only $60 using your EBT!

The CSA Model

Members pay up front for a 6-week subscription of locally grown produce. Each week, CSA members can expect to receive 7-8 different varieties of fruits and vegetables chosen by our farmers. As a CSA member, you participate in a local food system. This focus requires us to shift from a recipe-based cooking style to one based on available ingredients. We re-learn what it means to eat according to the seasons. We also learn what can be grown in our desert environment. At the Tucson CSA, membership extends beyond just picking up your produce – we invite you into a community of support to help you navigate new vegetables and share ideas, recipes, and common values in local food. 

We offer the opportunity to apply for CS-Aid to assist those who want to be members, whether for the first time or re-joining, but may have financial barriers at this time. If you are looking for local produce PLUS the educational and community resources to support you along the way, you are in the right place!

If you qualify for SNAP already, please sign up by filling out this application for CS-Aid.

About

We launched our CS-Aid program in March of 2020 in direct response to the Covid-19 Pandemic with generous support from current members who started donating to make sure that others would not have to cancel their membership due to unforeseen financial hardship. We are happy to continue to offer support to help past, current and future CSA members who would not otherwise be able to join.

Our CS-Aid program stays true to our value of Food Equity by including all those who want to be a part of our community.

If you do not qualify for SNAP, or are not certain, here are some resources that may help. If you are brand-new to food assistance programs, you may find the pre-screening tool through Arizona Self-Help especially helpful.

Our goal at Tucson CSA is to have 5% of our total membership at all times qualify and receive assistance through CS-Aid. We hope that we can continue to build upon our value of food equity by reaching a broader audience through this endeavor and more outreach projects to come!