FAQ’s

General Frequently Asked Questions

  • The International Rescue Committee provides opportunities for refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, survivors of torture, and other immigrants to thrive in America. Each year, thousands of people, forced to flee violence and persecution, are welcomed by the people of the United States into the safety and freedom of America. These individuals have survived against incredible odds.

    The IRC works with government bodies, civil society actors, and local volunteers to help them translate their past experiences into assets that are valuable to their new communities. In Salt Lake City and other offices across the country, the IRC helps them to rebuild their lives.

  • A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so. War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence are leading causes of refugees fleeing their countries.

    Two-thirds of all refugees worldwide come from just five countries: Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar and Somalia.

    Learn how you can help make an impact at www.rescue.org.

  • New Roots is a subsidiary program of the International Rescue Committee and seeks to build a healthier community through the development of small scale, urban farms and community gardens while increasing food access for refugees in Salt Lake City. You can learn more about New Roots on our Home page.

  • New Roots farmers have hundreds of years of collective farming experience using sustainable practices. The Redwood Road farm welcomed its first refugee farmers in 2010, and the 2 acre plot has provided the Salt Lake community with locally grown produce ever since.

  • We follow strict organic growing practices and use no synthetic inputs on any of our farm sites. Because of the unique nature of the New Roots program, with over 17 primary farmers, we have chosen not to participate in the National Organic Certification Program. We use only organic methods and build soil fertility with cover crops and compost, control weeds with human powered tools, minimize insect damage with spun-fabric row cover, and accept a certain amount of crop loss due to pests, disease, and bad weather.

  • All revenue from CSA, wholesale, and market sales go directly to the farmers who grew the produce. Farmers pay nominal fees back to the program to cover the costs of land, water, and materials. Sales revenue generated by farmers is never used to pay for staff time or program operational costs.

CSA Frequently Asked Questions

  • CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture and is a partnership between local farmers and you, the hungry customer. CSA’s are a business model that allow you as a consumer and our farmers to share both the risks and benefits involved with growing food.

    The customer makes a monetary commitment to the farmer at the beginning of the growing season and in return receives locally, organically grown produce every week of the growing season.

    The monetary commitment enables the farmer to receive the support when it is necessary: at the beginning of the season. Receiving the money up front allows them to invest in their season’s crops, purchasing seeds, materials and other tools for that year.

    The customer receives the benefits of having fresh healthy produce every week grown by a farmer that they know and trust—a farmer who can respond to feedback, adapt to the needs of their community, and grow food for the people.

  • You can pay by check, credit/debit card, or with SNAP/EBT benefits. If paying by check or card, payment can be broken into 3 equal payments. We just ask that you make one payment per month. For instance, the first payment is due April 1, second payment due May 1, third June 1. SNAP/EBT customers pay for their share weekly at the time of pick-up.

  • Online credit/debit card payments will be accepted with a 3% transaction fee. Payment is made on our Square site. You can also mail/drop off a check to the IRC office in downtown Salt Lake. Please make all checks payable to "International Rescue Committee" with the memo "New Roots CSA," and the installment number (if it's your first of three payments, write "Payment #1").

    Mail to:  

    International Rescue Committee
    ATTN: New Roots CSA  
    P.O. Box 3988
    Salt Lake City, UT 84110  

    If you are using SNAP/EBT benefits, you must bring your Utah Horizon card to your pick-up site each week and we will run the transaction when you collect your share. Please note that we are only accepting SNAP/EBT benefits at the Maud's Café and Redwood Farm pick-up locations at this time. If at any point you do not have enough funds on your SNAP/EBT card, you will need to pay for the full cost of your share that week using cash or credit/debit card.

  • We request that those interested in participating in the New Roots CSA sign up and complete payment by the first CSA pick-up on June 16, 2026. The CSA may be closed to new sign-ups before that time if we reach out member goal.

  • You can pick up your share from the pick-up location that you selected at the time of signing up. We have pick-up sites at Redwood Farm in West Valley, Wheadon Farm in Draper, Maud's Café in the granary district, and an eastern location. You can pick up your share on Wednesday afternoons between 4:30-7pm at Redwood and Wheadon farms or on Thursday afternoons between 4:30-7pm at Maud's Café and eastern pick-up locations.

  • The New Roots Farm Box CSA will run for 16 weeks from June 17 to October 7, 2026 with weekly deliveries of produce to your selected drop off site.

  • If you are going out of town, we suggest you find a friend to go pick up your share. You do not need to inform us that a friend is picking up your share. They can just come to your pick up location, say your name, and collect your vegetables! If you have planned absences and you don't intend to send a friend to pick up your share during that time, please let New Roots staff know at least one week in advance.

  • We cannot wait for you if you are unable to pick up your share at the designated time. Staffed pick-up sites (Maud's Café & Redwood Farm) will have a site leader and and you will be contacted with a reminder to collect your share 30 minutes prior to the end of the pick-up window. All unclaimed shares will be donated to the food bank or a family in need.