CSA growing seasons vary by region. Most CSAs in California operate year-round, while those
in Oregon and Washington, with cooler climates, have a significantly shorter growing season of
approximately 20 weeks. Despite a shorter growing season, most CSAs in Oregon and
Washington sell shares during all or part of the winter. In some cases shares consist of root
vegetables that are distributed in the fall and winter. In addition, many purchase produce from
off the farm and resell it through the CSA, a practice known as “buying in,” which is more
common among, though not limited to, CSAs operating in regions with cooler climates. While
this practice is a significant departure from the original concept of CSA, it represents an
important strategy in terms of income generation and member retention, since CSAs do not lose
members over the winter when production comes to a halt.