Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA Farms
Buying Locally Grown Food With Membership in a Family Farm
Jan 22, 2009
According to Wikepedia, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is: A socio-economic model of agriculture and food distribution. A CSA consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a local farm operation so that the farmland becomes the community's farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production. CSA’s focus is usually on a system of weekly delivery or pick-up of seasonal vegetables and fruit, sometimes including dairy products and meat.
How a CSA Works
“A farmer sells shares of his or her products to ‘share holders’ or customers. Typically, once a week the share holders receive a large basket of what’s ripe and ready to pick”, says Billy Skaggs, County Extension Director with The University of Georgia. “During months when traditional items such as tomatoes or watermelons are not being harvested, the farmer may supply the share holders with fresh bread, honey, jams and jellies, and other items produced on the farm. The benefits to the customer include higher quality, fresher produce that is usually picked within 48 hours of pick-up or delivery. Supporting a CSA farm means supporting your local community and keeping small farms viable,” adds Skaggs.
A Healthy Harvest
Supporting a CSA farm is also a way to live a more environmentally friendly, sustainable lifestyle. Produce that is grown across the country or even across the ocean, then shipped thousands of miles requires tremendous amounts of fuel, electricity, and other resources. CSA operations provide more than just food; they offer opportunity for local residents to become involved in the food they eat in several ways: knowing where and by whom the food is being produced; having a direct connection with the farmer who grows the food; and supporting the kind of stewardship that is good for the land as well as its people.
What does CSA membership involve?
Membership arrangements vary among farms. Some CSA farms deliver their food to the neighborhoods where members live or to the local farmers market, while others arrange for members to come to the farm to pick up their basket and even to help make deliveries. Some CSA farms expect members to work on the farm at least once during the season while others only expect members to support the farm with their membership.
Selecting a CSA
Local Harvest, a web-based CSA farm locator, advises that while membership in any CSA includes a weekly share of fresh produce, other factors may vary from farm to farm. Some things to consider when choosing a farm:
- Determine the acceptable driving distance when considering your level of involvement and the involvement expectations of the farm.
- Pick-up site/delivery day:CSA farms have various delivery or pick-up dates. Some farms will deliver your share to your door or to a common pick-up site, while others require you to pick up your share at the farm.
- Length of season and number of deliveries vary among the farms.
- Types of produce and other food items:CSA farms offer a wide variety of seasonal vegetables. Some farms may give members the option to buy honey, fruit, flowers, eggs, wool/yarn, meat or other specialties at an additional cost.
- Opportunities for Involvement: Community building is an important part of the CSA approach; all farms encourage you to become involved.
Membership in a CSA farm is fun for the whole family. Children learn where their food comes from and experience life on the farm. Eating fresh, nutritious food while supporting local businesses contributes to a healthier lifestyle and keeps family farms productive. Visit local farmers markets where you will likely meet farmers running a CSA farm.
