Just a few years ago when we wrote about CSA, we figured we had to explain that the letters stand for "community supported agriculture," in which customers pay farmers in advance for shares of their harvest.

Now, regular readers of this section and other foodie types are likely to know what CSA is, and many of them right now are pondering signing up for "a CSA," as one of the produce subscriptions has come to be known.

The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) has updated its list of farms in the region that offer CSA programs. The 2010 brochure lists 32 farms in Allegheny and surrounding counties, with contact information, pickup locations, and products and services offered.

New farms include the nicely named Who Cooks for You Farm and the Golden Harvest Farm, both in Armstrong County, and, in Erie County, Wild Winds Farm.

PASA Western Regional office outreach coordinator Mia Farber says, "The most notable thing to me about this year's offerings is that CSAs are offering a more diversified product line (breads, eggs, meats, jams and jellies plus the old standby veggies), offering more creative purchasing alternatives to engage with folks from various income levels, and also are delivering to a wider swath of the Western Pennsylvania region."

For instance, Dillner Family Farm is adding to its offerings orchard fruit from Boyer Farms, plus other "Jane's Specials" -- products from other farms such as baked goods, honey, organic eggs, frozen chickens, even flowers.

You can get a brochure from PASA or find the information on its Buy Fresh Buy Local website, buylocalpa.org/western-pa-csa. (Or call PASA at 412-697-0411.)

The site has at least two farms that didn't make the brochure: Avella, Washington County's Left Bower Farm and a new grass-fed beef CSA from Erie County's Golden Hill Farms.

PASA, meanwhile, sold out tonight's CSA-celebrating event with Just Harvest: the Share the Harvest dinner at Enrico Biscotti Co. in Highland Park. Proceeds will help provide Krestchmann Organic Farm CSA subscriptions to two families -- maybe even three, says Ms. Farber -- who will blog about their CSA experiences this season.

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