Community Supported Agriculture
By: Quinten Brown 16 Week AP ES
History
Community supported agriculture started around twenty five years ago. CSA's allow community members to buy fresh produce directly from the farm. ("Community supported agriculture," 2013)
Advantages for the Farmer
CSA's help with time management allowing the farmer to sell the crops before the long hours begin during growing season and gain the financial support of the community (Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, 2013). They also help with the cash flow of the farm providing the initial starting cost for the materials needed for planting each season. CSA's also boost a farmers moral by allowing the farmer to get to know the people benefiting from their work.
Advantages for the Community Members
The CSA program provides extremely fresh vegetables to the members which promotes the intake of natural vitamins and minerals, as well as a good taste which encourages young kids to eat them ("Community supported agriculture," 2013). This program also promotes the education of kids about agriculture by allowing farm visits by shareholders (Clawson, 2012).
Risks
There is a shared risk involved in the program. The community member usually has to pay for their share up front, which would not normally be a problem except if the harvest was small for that year. Reimbursement does not usually take place which could cause some resentment or give another insight to the lives of a farmer which will bring a teamwork feel which also means if one falls so would the other. ("Community supported agriculture," 2013)
Sources
Community supported agriculture. (2013, April 15). Retrieved from http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa.shtml
Clawson, B. (2012, December 31). Joining a community supported agriculture (csa) farm has benefits. Retrieved from http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/joining_a_community_supported_agriculture_csa_farm_h as_benefits
Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association. (2013).Community supported agriculture: An introduction to csa. Retrieved from https://www.biodynamics.com/content/community-supported-agriculture-introduction-csa