It may still look like winter outside, but area produce farmers are busy preparing for the season ahead and seeking members for their community-supported agriculture programs, or CSAs.

In CSAs, members pay an upfront fee to receive weekly shares of vegetables and fruits during the growing season. CSAs help farmers budget and plan ahead for the season.

In Champaign-Urbana, local CSAs include Prairieland CSA, which receives its produce from the Moore family farm in Watseka and delivers in Champaign and Urbana; Tomahnous Farm in Mahomet with pickup also in Champaign; and the Brackett farm in Bondville, with a pickup in Champaign.

Being part of a CSA is not like going to the grocery store and picking and choosing produce. What items members receive weekly varies depending on what's being harvested at that time, whether it's peas in the spring, corn in summer or squash in the fall.

"It helps if you're the adventurous type," said farmer Bob Brackett, who is getting ready to plant seeds under grow lights and outside in a cold frame. Because his sons have shown a growing interest in raw foods and fermenting foods, he said he plans to plant more vegetables such as cabbage, turnips and cucumbers this year. He also grows fruit like blackberries and close to 20 different varieties of cherry and sour tomatoes.

"We grow just about everything you can reasonably grow in Illinois and we try to include a good mix of stuff," said Lisa Haynes of Tomahnous Farm, a certified organic farm in Mahomet. They have organized a CSA for about seven years now and sell about 50 shares a season. Her season runs 25 weeks, from mid-May and always ends on Election Day.

Right now in the greenhouse Haynes is growing onions, leeks, peppers and herbs. In the ground are radishes and chives. Haynes said she always has strawberries for her members.

"We give people as much choice as we can," such as a choosing a small or large eggplant, said Anna Barnes of Champaign, who coordinates the Prairieland CSA. Prairieland CSA dates back to 1995. Members receive newsletters and, in the beginning of the season, new members receive a cookbook that provides recipes and ideas on preparing some dishes with the fresh produce.

Over the last two years the Moores have planted asparagus and Barnes said members may be able to receive some asparagus this year depending on when the spears are ready to be harvested. The Moores also plant small melons such as heirloom watermelons and honey dews in addition to a wide variety of other produce. Produce not picked up is donated to area homeless shelters or food pantries, Barnes said.

CSA membership varies from about $400 to $425 for the growing season, which varies by CSA.

"I think people are becoming more and more aware of CSAs. The interest in local food is definitely growing and growing fast," Haynes said.