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Food Feature: Community Supported Agriculture: A growing trend
Maybe you've already discovered local food. And maybe you're already a regular customer at your local farmer's market. This year, you may want to take the next step and get involved with Community Supported Agriculture or a CSA.
A CSA creates a direct link between a local farm or group of farmers and you. Basically, you become an investor in the farm for this year's growing season and you reap weekly dividends in the form of fresh, seasonal produce direct from the farm. Your investment helps the farmer know that the cost of seeds, fertilizer, water, and labor are covered up front at the beginning of the season. They are also guaranteed a reliable market for their crops.
There are several different types of CSA. In the Piedmont region of North Carolina, where I live, you can buy into produce CSAs, meat CSAs, cheese/dairy CSAs and even fresh flower CSAs. Each week you go pick up your box either at the farm or at an in-town location (often the farmer's market). The farmer's websites give you an idea of what you can expect to receive each week in your box -- some even provide recipes. In almost all cases you are invited to visit the farm and optionally to help out.
A share in a CSA generally ranges between $20-$30 per week. If you compare that to how much you would spend in a local grocery on seasonal, organic produce, it's probably about the same. However, with a CSA as with the farmer's market you are contributing to the sustainability of your community by buying local.
The only downside of CSAs I can see is that you only get what's in season, which is all well and good as long as you like what's in season. (Each box generally includes 5-7 different things so it's unlikely you'd not like anything). You and your family may try out a recipe and discover new flavors. Alternately, maybe you can partner up with a friend who's also doing a CSA and you can trade what you don't like for what you like. Just be sure you don't both dislike beets.
On the Local Harvest website, they explain that the model started 30 years ago in Japan where "a group of women concerned about the increase in food imports and the corresponding decrease in the farming population initiated a direct growing and purchasing relationship between their group and local farms. This arrangement, called "teikei" in Japanese, translates to "putting the farmers' face on food." This concept traveled to Europe and was adapted to the U.S. and given the name "Community Supported Agriculture" at Indian Line Farm, Massachusetts, in 1985. As of January 2005, there are over 1500 CSA farms across the US and Canada."
If you're interested in finding a CSA near you or learning more, here are a couple sites to get you started:
Biodynamics
EatWell Guide
A CSA creates a direct link between a local farm or group of farmers and you. Basically, you become an investor in the farm for this year's growing season and you reap weekly dividends in the form of fresh, seasonal produce direct from the farm. Your investment helps the farmer know that the cost of seeds, fertilizer, water, and labor are covered up front at the beginning of the season. They are also guaranteed a reliable market for their crops.
There are several different types of CSA. In the Piedmont region of North Carolina, where I live, you can buy into produce CSAs, meat CSAs, cheese/dairy CSAs and even fresh flower CSAs. Each week you go pick up your box either at the farm or at an in-town location (often the farmer's market). The farmer's websites give you an idea of what you can expect to receive each week in your box -- some even provide recipes. In almost all cases you are invited to visit the farm and optionally to help out.
A share in a CSA generally ranges between $20-$30 per week. If you compare that to how much you would spend in a local grocery on seasonal, organic produce, it's probably about the same. However, with a CSA as with the farmer's market you are contributing to the sustainability of your community by buying local.
The only downside of CSAs I can see is that you only get what's in season, which is all well and good as long as you like what's in season. (Each box generally includes 5-7 different things so it's unlikely you'd not like anything). You and your family may try out a recipe and discover new flavors. Alternately, maybe you can partner up with a friend who's also doing a CSA and you can trade what you don't like for what you like. Just be sure you don't both dislike beets.
On the Local Harvest website, they explain that the model started 30 years ago in Japan where "a group of women concerned about the increase in food imports and the corresponding decrease in the farming population initiated a direct growing and purchasing relationship between their group and local farms. This arrangement, called "teikei" in Japanese, translates to "putting the farmers' face on food." This concept traveled to Europe and was adapted to the U.S. and given the name "Community Supported Agriculture" at Indian Line Farm, Massachusetts, in 1985. As of January 2005, there are over 1500 CSA farms across the US and Canada."
If you're interested in finding a CSA near you or learning more, here are a couple sites to get you started:
Biodynamics
EatWell Guide
Views: 2
Tags: agriculture, communitysupportedagriculture, featuredcontent, featuredcontenthomeandfood, food, local, slow, sustainable, tmfc
Comment
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Comment by Patti Lekas on March 12, 2009 at 10:31am -
I just signed up for one here and am amazed no one around me knew of it.
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Comment by Nicki on March 9, 2009 at 4:14am -
My experience with CSA was wonderful! And, the in season part allowed me to expand what my family ate. I have never bought swiss chard in the store but when I got some in the CSA, I found recipes for it and we loved it.
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Comment by Ted De Barbieri on March 8, 2009 at 5:00pm -
Just signed up for my local CSA (http://greenpoint-williamsburgcsa.org/news.php) and looking forward to our first distribution in June. Curious to know about CSA legal structures, and whether other CSAs have been able to gain tax exemption for offering shares to low-income families, or by donating to local pantries/food banks. Has anyone's CSA been successful with those types of programs?
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Comment by Lauren Barack on March 7, 2009 at 7:59am -
We joined a CSA about 3 years ago. The first one wasn't a great fit for us. It was too far to actually pick up the groceries -- and in Manhattan this is an issue -- plus not an attitude I loved. This one we're in now is ideal. I split a full-share with my next door neighbor - and we often make joint meals for our families on the days we pick up our shares. She'll use things I won't and visa versa. It's brought me back to realizing truly how seasonal food is. I'll still buy cantelope for my daughter in winter — but I do love that taste of carrots picked that morning. We all actually hate beets - so we're working on that!
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Comment by AKAmamma on March 7, 2009 at 4:55am -
Great post. According to the USDA, CSAs are growing in popularity, a trend only to be overshadowed by the number of US consumers buying organic products. We joined a CSA last year, and it was a lot of fun. We had vegetables that I had never seen before. We're looking forward to doing it again this year.
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Comment by Natalie on March 6, 2009 at 6:16pm -
CSA's are awesome! Our family has a very tight budget, so buying a full share was not an option for us. However, I have some free time and a strong back; so I do a full working share. At our specific CSA, I work an 80 hour season-- 4 hours one day a week. In exchange I take home the same share of veggies, herbs and flowers as the other shareholders. Great exercise, great people and great organic produce!
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Comment by Erin on March 6, 2009 at 6:09pm
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I've never heard of Community Supported Agriculture before. After browsing through the link on Local Harvest, I found three resources that I was unaware of for my area. With several nearby organic farms, this could be a really interesting way to invest in farm fresh food. Thanks for the info!
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