Please read the entire share terms below before registering to join the UK-CSA program for our 20th season in 2026! 

WHO WE ARE 

he UK-CSA operates within the Department of Horticulture of the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. It is an educational and outreach project that forms an integral part of the Sustainable Agriculture & Community Food Systems (SAG) Undergraduate Degree Program and the KY Farm Launch Beginning Farmer Training Program. It links faculty, staff, and students from the UK community with the Organic Farming Unit located at the UK Horticulture Research Farm. 

THE CSA COMMITMENT 

CSA is a mutual commitment and partnership between a farm and supportive members of the community. The farmer(s) provide the wisdom and labor needed to grow or raise a farm product and members provide adequate financial support needed for the farm to operate in an economically sustainable manner. The farm benefits from having a reliable market at an equitable price and members receive fresh, local, and affordable food grown by people they know and trust. 

More specifically, the UK-CSA is a season-long contract between members and the UK-CSA project. The members commit to a price for a portion, sometimes termed “share,” of the farm’s production for a predetermined number of weeks. The farm harvests vegetables, some fruit, and herbs at the peak of readiness and delivers them to members at a central distribution point on a weekly basis for the duration of the season. The farm provides a diverse selection of fresh produce each week, and members know that they are receiving organically grown, seasonal produce from a local farm at a fair price. 

Please keep in mind that a core principle of the CSA concept is the shared commitment between the farm and members. The CSA model is meant to share not only the bounty of the farm but also the potential risks that may come with each growing season, whether that be an extended period of drought or a serious insect infestation. We will always provide a diverse share, but we cannot guarantee certain quantities of specific items at any point in the season. 

As CSA farmers, we believe this marketing model gives our members a food experience and value they can’t find at any store. There are tangible and intangible benefits of being a CSA member, including food abundance, access, diversity, freshness, and nutrition. In addition, membership gives you access to you-pick, farm events, educational resources, and face-to-face farmer interaction. Your membership also invests in future farmers, bolsters the local food economy, and supports environmental sustainability. 

For us as the producers, the CSA is our primary but not our sole means of financial stability. We utilize a Farm Stand program to sell extras after fulfilling our CSA commitment, or as a way to salvage a crop that performed poorly, in order to meet our goals of economic sustainability. The Farm Stand extras are available for purchase by CSA members who would like additional products, as well as for other community members for whom a CSA does not fit their lifestyle. 

WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES 

The CSA project is not a commercial farm and is not managed for profit. All financial proceeds from the sale of produce support the production of food during the growing season (seeds, supplies, and staff salaries) and student educational activities of the SAG program. Some additional areas of scholarship will include student study tours, and support for conference attendance.

CERTIFIED ORGANIC 

All produce grown for the CSA is managed according to the USDA National Organic Program standards. We are certified organic by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and have been since 2007. What does this mean? Organic certification provides independent verification that all produce from a farm has been raised and handled in compliance with the USDA organic standards. The USDA defines an organic farm as one that responds to sitespecific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Organic production is a pro-active, environmentally sensitive approach to farming that builds a healthy, vibrant soil as the foundation for crop and livestock vitality. 

HOW THE UK-CSA WORKS 

• The UK-CSA is open to all members of the UK community including students, staff, and faculty, as well as alumni and friends of the program. 
• Registration for the UK-CSA main 22-week season will be managed through an online form hosted by Ag Communications. Individuals will be responsible for using the link provided on our website to join the CSA. 
• Membership will be sold on a first come, first served basis. If all spots in the CSA are claimed, you can be put on a waiting list. ➢ The 2026 season will be 22 weeks. The first distribution date is scheduled for Thursday, May 21st and the last distribution date is scheduled for Thursday, October 15th . Note: due to unforeseen circumstances in Spring weather, we have had to reschedule the start date in the past, but the season-length (22 weeks of produce) will always remain the same. 
• Distribution is scheduled for Thursdays. You must specify your pick-up location when signing up and will not be allowed to switch on a weekly basis. Location and time options to choose from are: 
  • o4-6pm at the Horticulture Barn (former motor pool building), 1505 College Way 
  • 3:30-6:30pm at the UK Horticulture Research Farm, 4321 Emmert Farm Lane 
• Share distribution will take place rain or shine. 
• CSA shares will be picked up using the “buffet style” of distribution, where members select their own items out of bins. Members would be responsible for bringing their own bags, carts, or boxes to collect their share items. 
• The member assumes complete responsibility for picking up their share. The farm will send an email reminder to all members to pick up their shares. If the member can’t pick it up, they must make arrangements to have a neighbor, friend, co-worker or family member pick up the share instead and check off the member’s name upon sign-in. Each member pays for the share each week regardless if it gets picked up. All produce not picked-up is donated to GleanKY (http://www.gleanky.org/). 
• Thursday is the only time that weekly shares will be available and produce will not be stored for later distribution. However, if you miss a pick up you have the option to get it from the farm on Friday if you call or text the CSA Manager before noon Friday. Please save this number: CSA Manager, Kristi Durbin, 859-552-4165 (cell). 

PAYMENT POLICIES 

• The cost of a share includes the once a week share for 22 weeks and free access to certain you-pick crops at the farm when in season, as noted in the weekly newsletters. 
• There are no student discounts at this time. Vouchers worth $200 will be available and can be applied to a 2026 UK-CSA share for eligible UK employees enrolled on a UK health care plan. Spouses or partners who are each on separate UK health plans may be eligible to combine 2 individual vouchers. UK retirees may also be eligible for a voucher. Contact UK Health & Wellness to inquire or visit the website for more information.
• CSA registrations in January and February (“Early Bird”) cost $836 ($38/week). Starting March 1, the cost is $856. 
• Returning CSA members from 2025 can receive a $30 discount off the 2026 shares. Enter the Loyalty Code which will be sent via email in January, or contact us via email to inquire about this code if you believe you are eligible. 
• Members will have the option of paying in full by credit card at time of sign up, pay by check, or pay in 3 installments. If choosing the installment method, the first installment of $200 will be due at sign up. The remaining amount is divided into two equal amounts due by June 1 and July 1 for the second and third installments. If you need a more flexible payment plan, please contact us at uk.csa@uky.edu. 
• A non-refundable $200 minimum deposit is requested to secure your spot, due within 30 days of your registration. This deposit goes toward the total cost of the CSA share; this is not an additional payment. If you do not pay in full or pay the first installment online, you will need to submit this minimum deposit by check. If you are a UK employee receiving a $200 CSA voucher from UK Health & Wellness, this voucher does not count as your $200 deposit. 
• Payments must be made by check or card, and there is no option to have the payments withheld from your UK paycheck at this time. 
• All shares must be paid in full by July 1st unless prior arrangements have been made with the CSA Manager. 
• If paying by check, please send all checks (made payable to “UK CSA”) to: CSA Manager N318 Ag Sciences Bldg Lexington, KY 40546 
• It is the members’ responsibility to open and read the emails sent to them regarding their share (including payment notices) and pay in a prompt manner. Please remember prompt payment is necessary for the farm to operate. 
• You will not be able to cancel a membership once the season begins, but you may transfer your share to another individual if unforeseen circumstances prevent you from continuing as a member (unexpected relocation, etc). Cancellations prior to the start of the season will receive back all CSA monies paid minus the $200 deposit. 
• If we still have spots open at the start of our CSA season, we will accept new members who may join at a pro-rated amount. Interested individuals should contact the CSA manager directly about a late sign up. 
• Any questions or concerns can be addressed to: uk.csa@uky.edu.  

WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT IN YOUR SHARE 

Since shares contain the freshest produce available and because there is no way to precisely predict growing conditions during a season, we won’t know the actual content of a share until it’s time for the weekly harvest. That being said, the average weekly share will be a variety of 6-10 items, ¾-1 bushel in size. This amount of produce should provide for a family of 4, or 2 vegetarians. The best way to “see” what a share looks like is to view our photos of previous shares on Flickr. 

Based on a typical growing season, you may find these items in your share: 

• May: arugula, garlic scapes, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, radish, spinach 
• June: beet, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, chard, cilantro, cucumber, dill, green onion, kale, lettuce, radish, rhubarb, spinach, turnip, yellow squash, zucchini 
• July: basil, beet, bell pepper, carrot, corn, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, green beans, leafy greens, melon, onion, pepper, tomato, yellow squash, zucchini 
• August: basil, carrot, corn, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, green beans, melon, onion, pepper, potato, tomato 
• September: basil, beet, celery, chard, garlic, green beans, kale, lettuce, melon, onion, pepper, potato, tomato, turnip, winter squash 
• October: arugula, beet, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, chard, garlic, kale, lettuce, onion, potato, radish, spinach, sweet potato, turnip, winter squash

In addition to your share of produce, you will also be able to read a weekly newsletter, containing seasonal recipes, veggie tips, farm updates, notes from our student apprentices and other fun tidbits. All members will also receive a digital copy of our UK CSA Member Handbook with storage, preservation, and cooking tips via email. 

YOU-PICK 

We grow a few crops specifically for members to harvest themselves at the farm. Some of these crops you may also receive in your share (e.g. green beans, basil) others are only being grown for you-pick (e.g. flowers, okra, cherry tomatoes, raspberries, blackberries, other herbs). You-pick allows members a chance to regularly see the farm, bring their families, and enjoy a bit extra of the harvest. There is no additional cost for members to you-pick. Details below and more, including video how-to’s, are also found online. 

• The farm is located at the southwest corner of Nicholasville Road and Man-O-War at 4321 Emmert Farm Lane. Once on the farm, follow the gravel road all the way to the back of the farm where you can park in a small gravel lot to your left. 
• You-pick crops are updated in the weekly newsletter and clearly marked with a sign. You-pick is not available the first week of the CSA; please check the newsletter for when you-pick opens. 
• You must bring your own harvest containers and your own pruners or scissors. 
• On your first visit, please ask us for a you-pick orientation. Members must follow guidelines for quantities allowed to pick each week. 
• Please no pets. 
• Vehicles are not allowed on the grass roadways or in the fields, please leave them in the parking lot and walk to the designated you-pick fields. 
• Please drive slowly on the gravel farm road. 
• You-pick hours are Monday-Friday 7:30-4:00pm with extended hours until 6:30pm on Thursdays. We offer once a month You-Pick on Saturday mornings from 9am-11am during peak season. These will be advertised in our Member Handbook and on our website, and will be available for guests who pay to pick. 
• Please only take what you will personally use, and leave some for others. Reselling is prohibited. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at uk.csa@uky.edu. 

Updated 12/17/2025