Community Supported Agriculture
The Benefits of the Movement, by Jordan Wilcox
What is CSA?
CSA is a movement that both supports local farmers and makes organic and locally farmed fruits and vegetables available to those who would like to have them. Consumers purchase a "membership" to a local farmer. In return, they receive a box of produce from that farmer each week. Included in the box is goods from that particular farm, namely various fresh fruits and vegetables. The resulting feeling of "shared risk" between the farmer and the consumer is a huge factor in the success of the movement: it brings people together.
Benefits to the Consumer
- Fresh, organically farmed goods
- Exposure to new culture styles of cooking through the community atmosphere
- Farm visits
- Develop a rapport with a local farmer
Fresh
Vegetables and fruits are harvested and immediately delivered.
Convenient
Perfect-sized boxes of fresh goods are given to consumers once a week.
Bonding
Develop close relationships with other members of the CSA community.
Benefits to the Farmer
- Increased cash flow due to payments received from membership holders
- Farmers have the opportunity to "market" their food to large quantities of people before the farming season begins
- Farmers build long-lasting relationships with their customers
Market
Enjoy the opportunity of marketing your finest goods before the season begins.
Community
Find joy in sharing your food with many members of the community.
Satisfaction
Gain the satisfaction of working as an independent farmer and the monetary benefits that come with that in this system.
Sources
The information provided on this flyer was gathered from LocalHarvest at the following address: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/