The Community
Supported Agriculture, (CSA) brings community members, farmers and
agricultural land together in a relationship of mutual support based
on a commitment to one another. This commitment helps to
ensure the survival of local agriculture today and for future
generations.
How it works:
Community
members pay the farmer a membership fee to cover the production
costs of the farm. In turn, members receive a weekly share of
the harvest during the local growing season. The arrangement
guarantees the farmer financial support and enables many small to
moderate scale all natural family farms to remain in business.
Ultimately,
CSA creates agriculture-supported communities where members receive
a variety of foods harvested at their peak of ripeness, flavor and
vitamin and mineral content.
What is a
share?
Each weak the
farmer harvests fresh crops that are either divided equally among
shareholders or into boxes of predetermined quantities.
Usually people receive their food within 24 hours of picking.
Shares will either be picked up at the farm each week at a
predetermined time or delivered to a central location where
shareholders may meet the farmer to pick up their produce.
CSA- A
solution for farmers and communities that:
- Supplies
the community high quality, all natural produce.
- Provides
the farmer a guaranteed outlet and a fair return.
- Keeps
food dollars in the local community.
- Creates
a viable, economically and environmentally sustainable
agricultural system
- Offers
an opportunity to celebrate nature and community for all!
In the words
of Wendell Berry, "How we eat determines, to a considerable extent,
how the world is used." With this in mind, it is important to
remember that the goals of CSA support a sustainable agriculture
system.