What Is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?
CSA is a commitment between a farm and a community of consumers. By purchasing a share of the season's harvest, CSA members support the farm throughout the season, and assume the costs, risks and bounty of growing food along with the farmer or grower. In return, the farm provides a healthy supply of seasonal fresh produce throughout the growing season.

This mutually supportive relationship between local growers and community members helps create an economically stable farm operation in which members are assured the highest quality produce at excellent prices. And farmers are guaranteed a reliable market for a diverse selection of crops.

How Does CSA Work?

A farmer or grower, often with the assistance of a core group, draws up a budget reflecting the production costs for the year. This includes all salaries, distribution costs, investments for seeds and tools, land payments, taxes, machinery maintenance, etc. The budget is then divided by the number of people the farm will provide for and this determines the cost of each share of the harvest. One share is usually designed to provide the weekly vegetable needs for a family of four. Share prices reflect many variables and average between $300 and $600. Flowers, fruit, meat, honey, eggs and dairy products are also available through some CSA.

Community members sign up and purchase their shares, either in a lump sum before the seeds are sown in early spring, or in several installments through-out the growing season. Production expenses are thereby guaranteed and the farmer or grower starts receiving income as soon as work begins.

In return for their investment, CSA members receive a box of fresh, locally-grown, typically organic produce once a week from late spring through early fall, and occasionally throughout the winter in northern climates and year-round in milder zones. Members prefer a wide variety of vegetables and herbs, which encourages integrated cropping and companion planting. These practices help reduce risk factors and give multiple benefits to the soil. Crops are planted in succession in order to provide a continuous weekly supply of mixed vegetables. As crops rotate throughout the season, weekly shares vary by size and types of produce, reflecting local growing seasons and conditions.

CSA vary considerably as they are based on farm or garden location, agricultural practices, and specific farm and community goals and needs. Memberships are known to include a variety of community members including low-income families, homeless people, senior citizens, and differently-abled individuals. If provided, an extra fee typically is charged for home delivery.

CSA strive for a truly sustainable operation, both economically and environmentally. Many expand over time to provide additional food items such as honey, fruit, meats, eggs, etc., and form networks with other farms to provide a greater range of products.

Some CSA provide produce for local restaurants, roadside stands or farmers' markets while developing farm membership, or in many cases, in addition to it.

CSA provide a direct marketing distribution system. Several advantages to the direct marketing approach of CSA, in addition to shared risk and pre-payment of farm costs, are the minimal loss and waste of harvested farm produce, little or reduced need for long-term storage, and a willingness by members to accept produce with natural cosmetic imperfections.

Why Is Community Supported Agriculture Important?

* CSA encourages direct communication and cooperation among farmers and consumers.
* CSA provides farmers and growers with a fair return on their labor.
* CSA keeps food dollars in the local community and contribute to the development and maintenance of regional food systems.
* With a "guaranteed market" for their produce, farmers can invest their time in doing the best job they can producing food rather than marketing their products.
* CSA supports the biodiversity of a given farm and the diversity of agriculture.
* CSA creates a sense of social responsibility and stewardship of local land.
* CSA puts "the farmers' face on the food" and increases understanding of how, where, and by whom our food is grown.

To learn more about CSA, visit
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
The Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education