Sign ups for LUCSA are open! Experience our shares packed full of locally sourced, seasonal products all year round.

Email lucsa@theurbancanopy.org with any questions.

LUCSA FAQs

1. What is LUCSA?
   LUCSA stands for Local Unified Community Supported Agriculture. We deliver a box of locally-sourced produce weekly throughout the year in the greater Chicagoland area. Learn more details about LUCSA and its history here!

2. When will sign-ups open or close?

   Sign-ups when we hit a certain capacity. Otherwise, they will remain open whenever we have availability.

3. When does LUCSA operate throughout the year?
   Since 2020, LUCSA has been a year-round CSA! Each season is specialized to bring you different kinds of locally sourced foods. In the summer, we supply members with all of the seasonal fruits and veggies through the heart of the growing season. In the winter, we supply members with pantry items like rice, beans and oats, value-added products like tofu, seitan and nuts, and jarred goods from our Processing kitchen - on top of all of the soup season staple root veggies, of course. You can check our Instagram for photos of LUCSA shares throughout the seasons.

4. How does payment work?
   LUCSA operates using an ongoing membership - unless cancelled, memberships will automatically renew month to month. This reduces the hassle of repeated sign-ups throughout the year, and makes it easier to on and offboard with more convenience to you! Members are charged once every 4 weeks instead of weekly, biweekly or monthly. See more info on billing below.

What comes in each box?

Every week, LUCSA shares will include a loaf of bread, a dozen eggs, a bag of mushrooms, a beverage and 6-7 local produce items. Produce will vary from week to week based on what is in season, which means you get to experience produce at its peak and prepare meals according to seasonality!

For most of our members, a share typically will last about one week for two people to make anywhere from 4 to 8 dishes. Members should expect to continue purchasing meat, dairy, and grains to supplement the share and support their local farmers market with some additional produce purchases.

What’s the cost of membership?

There are 2 choices that you need to make about your membership. You will be billed every 4 weeks for each plan.

1. You can be a Full share member and receive weekly deliveries. Full shares cost $55/share, or $220 every 4 weeks.

2. You can be a Half share member and receive biweekly deliveries. Half shares cost $60/share, or $120 every 4 weeks.

We also offer $25 in LINK Match for anyone purchasing LUCSA with an EBT card. Each share is valued at $50 and will cost you $25 on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Just select LINK as your preferred payment method and we will contact you with more information for the season! Please email lucsa@theurbancanopy.org if you have any questions about using EBT.

Link Match is brought to you by Link Up Illinois. Link Up Illinois is making healthy, local, farm-fresh foods more affordable and accessible by doubling the value of Link purchases at farmers markets, farm stands, food co-ops, and independent grocery and corner stores across Illinois. Link Up Illinois is a program of Experimental Station. You can learn more at www.linkupil.org.

How do I become a member?

1. Read through our membership policies.

2. Sign up for LUCSA here. If you are within our delivery zone, you will be able to sign up. If you aren’t, you can always reach out and ask us if we could make an exception. If you are an interested LINK member, signup here instead.

3. You will first sign up for share type and meat subscriptions. After you check out, you will be directed to a form where we will collect information on your share preferences, allergies and more.

4. Check for your welcome email. This will include more detailed information about your membership schedule and services. You can also find information abuot your shares and delivery dates within your member portal!

Weekly Add Ons

Finn’s Steak & Egg Ranch Meat Shares

Additional LUCSA FAQs

When will I receive my share?
Members will receive their share between 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM on Wednesdays and Thursdays, or 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM on Fridays. Delivery days are assigned based on geographic regions and can not be selected by a member.

Can I receive my share on a different delivery date because I’m on vacation/out of town?
With at least 7 days notice, we can work to accommodate changes. Common solutions are:

1. Delivering to a friend/neighbor at your residence or within your delivery zone.

2. If you receive biweekly deliveries, we can shift your delivery to a week you would normally not receive a share.

3. We can arrange for you to pick up the share from our warehouse in Pilsen.

4. As a final resort we can donate your share to the Pilsen Food Pantry who will deliver it to a family needing food support.

What am I getting as a substitute for a listed allergy?
You will receive more of another item in the share or a substitute like item (i.e. a coffee allergy will get a different beverage, a veggie allergy will get a different vegetable). If there are items you would prefer not to receive, please list them in the allergy section (i.e. if you don’t drink alcohol, put ‘alcohol’, or put ‘radishes’ if you tend not to eat these and they go to waste). Feel free to reach out to us during the season to edit these preferences as well.

When will I stop receiving LUCSA shares?
Your membership will automatically renew year round. Once you are ready to stop receiving LUCSA shares, members reach out to us via email or submit a request through your member portal. This must be done 2 weeks ahead of your next cycle.

Feel free to email lucsa@theurbancanopy.org with any further questions!