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Rutgers Gardens
Rutgers logo
Rutgers Gardens
Rutgers logo
Rutgers Gardens
Rutgers logo
Rutgers Gardens
Hand holding a line of cherry tomatoes

Join our CSA

What is a CSA Program?

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs provide access to just-picked, locally grown vegetables, often with cost savings for the customer. Becoming a Rutgers Gardens Student Farm CSA member goes beyond shopping at a farmers market vegetable stand through the community you build with your dedicated support. CSA programs emphasize sustainable agriculture practices, offer transparency between the customer and the local food system, and create strong relationships where members “know their farmer” and can ask questions directly to the farm team.

Our CSA program invites you to pre-purchase a share of the farm’s harvest at a scale that works for you, then enjoy the nutritious vegetables grown on our Student Farm all season long! When you join the CSA, your commitment to the farm is a win-win situation: you secure your favorite fresh veggies at a discounted rate through our bonus rewards program, and you help the farm team start our season with up-front sales that support purchases of seeds and supplies.

2026 CSA registration is now closed. 

It's Your Choice

We are a choice-model CSA, which means that you choose the veggies you get each week! 

How it works:

  • You purchase an initial share size at the value of your choice.  Based on the amount you spend, we apply additional bonus credits to your account.
  • The fresh produce we grow for you is available for pickup each week at The Rutgers Community Farmers Market (RCFM) at Rutgers Gardens on Fridays from 11am-3pm, May – November.
  • As a bonus, we’ll announce pop-up locations for extra opportunities to pick up produce throughout the fall, including at the RCFM on College Avenue.
  • During the market season, you spend down your account balance as you choose. One week you can purchase enough veggies and herbs for just you, the next week for a meal to feed the whole family or a large gathering. It’s up to you how you spend from your account, and each week we will have a running total of your account balance. Need to skip a week? No problem!
Learn About the Farmers Market
Amanda harvest vegetables from the field

What You Get

We promise a wide variety of fresh, healthy vegetables and herbs grown using organic practices.  Selections vary each week based on seasonality, but the 2025 CSA included: Arugula, Asian greens, Beans, Beets, Bell Peppers, Broccoli Raab/Broccolini, Cabbages, Carrots, Cucamelons, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Fennel, Garlic, Ginger, Herbs, Hot Peppers, Husk Cherries, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuces, Mustard Greens, Onions, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabaga, Scallions, Spicy Salad Mix, Spinach, Summer Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Salad Turnips, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes.

Lauren shops for vegetables at the farmers market

CSA Member Exclusives

CSA members receive:

  • A weekly newsletter that lets you know what you’ll find at the market that week, shares stories from the field from our student interns and staff, and includes recipes and fun ways to use our products.
  • Invitations to special community events and programs.
  • Produce "freebies" or "extras" when the harvest is abundant, available only to CSA members.
  • Skip the line (new this year) – we will have a designated check-out station only for CSA shoppers.
  • A sign-up bonus for each level of CSA membership.
People shop for vegetables

Why the CSA is Great

  • We have competitive prices for premium quality produce grown in the fields on site at Rutgers Gardens using organic practices.
  • We build a team of student interns each season to carry out all day-to-day tasks of farming with organic practices, so your support helps us train the next generation of sustainable farmers.
  • We are on our journey to become a certified organic farm, educating our students and community members along the way.
  • You can refresh your balance anytime.
    • If you add to your balance throughout the season, you’ll receive an additional bonus for spending $250 or more.
Students harvest beans on the farm

By becoming a CSA member, you are not only helping our farm to grow the freshest and most delicious vegetables for your table – but also supporting our core mission to give students meaningful, hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture.

Here are a few more reasons to consider our CSA, shared by actual members. 

Freshly harvested carrots

Testimonial by Chef Pearl N. Thompson

“As a personal chef, I need access to high quality ingredients for my clients. My mission is to ensure I support growers, especially in New Jersey. My work as an organizer and activist around food justice, equity, and black food sovereignty informs my decision to join your CSA. The fact that I live in the belief that food is first and foremost medicine, means it is important that I have high quality, organic, and a wide variety of plant food easily available."
Student hands harvesting green beans

Comments from Brian Tobin & Maureen Cozine

“We've been longtime CSA members because we love knowing exactly where our food comes from and supporting student-led, local agriculture. The RGSF CSA makes it easy to eat seasonally while staying connected to the people who grow our food.”
Mixed vegetables for sale at the market

Praise from Evelyn Fuertes

"I am a CSA member because it’s important to me to support future farmers. I love the diversity of produce and people that I see every week at the market. As a Rutgers staff member, I also enjoy the networking opportunities at the farmers market – it’s a great place to make connections since everyone is in a good mood. I like to get there early when all the produce is ready, it is displayed beautifully, and the quality is superb."
If you have additional questions, please reach out to Meagan Terry, Assistant Director: Sustainable Agriculture and Urban Farms at rgstudentfarm@sebs.rutgers.edu or stop by our stand during the farmers market season to meet the team. We look forward to growing a community with you!