1. Producer directory and participation detail

Gov. Brad Little has proclaimed Feb. 19-25 as Idaho Community Supported Agriculture Week.

The proclamation recognizes the contribution that family-owned farms and ranches make to the economy and to community resilience, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

Through community supported agriculture programs, local producers sell shares or memberships that enable consumers to receive fresh foods such as meat, milk, eggs, produce, flowers and honey. More than 80 programs are available in the state.

Updates to the department’s CSA directory reveal an 81% surge in adoption of the programs compared to the previous year, “underscoring a growing desire among consumers and producers for direct connections,” Erica White, who manages ISDA’s Idaho Preferred local-food program, told Capital Press.

“It’s evident that people have become increasingly interested in understanding the origins of their food and actively seeking opportunity to procure directly from local farms,” she said.

Community supported agriculture plays a critical role in connecting consumers with local farmers and ranchers while promoting the consumption of high-quality, Idaho-grown food, Laura Johnson, ISDA Marketing Bureau chief, said in a news release. The proclamation “reaffirms the state’s commitment to fostering a strong agricultural economy and supporting our local farmers.”

CSA programs can provide producers with opportunities to raise working capital to expand operations, to minimize risk and to increase income, according to the department.