What is Community Supported Agriculture?

CSA is a partnership of mutual commitment between a farm and a community of supporters that provides a direct link between the production and consumption of food. Supporters cover a farm's yearly operating budget by purchasing a share of the season's harvest. CSA members make a commitment to support the farm throughout the season, and assume the costs, risks and bounty of growing food along with the farmer or grower. Members help pay for seeds, fertilizer, water, equipment maintenance, labor, etc. In return, the farm provides, to the best of its ability, a healthy supply of seasonal fresh produce throughout the growing season. Becoming a member creates a responsible relationship between people and the food they eat, the land on which it is grown and those who grow it.

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

CSA reflects an innovative and resourceful strategy to connect local farmers with local consumers; develop a regional food supply and strong local economy; maintain a sense of community; encourage land stewardship; and honor the knowledge and experience of growers and producers working with small to medium farms. CSA is a unique model of local agriculture whose roots reach back 30 years to Japan where a group of women concerned about the increase in food imports and the corresponding decrease in the farming population initiated a direct growing and purchasing relationship between their group and local farms. This arrangement, called "teikei" in Japanese, translates to "putting the farmers' face on food." This concept traveled to Europe and was adapted to the U.S. and given the name "Community Supported Agriculture" at Indian Line Farm, Massachusetts, in 1985. As of January 2005, there are over 1500 CSA farms across the US and Canada.

What is a CSA Share and what is it worth?
With a pre-season payment you may purchase a “share” of the farm’s summer and fall harvest. You then receive a weekly box of fresh, organic produce through our 26 week harvest cycle, mid-June into mid-December. In signing up, you dedicate yourself to being our customer for the season. This provides the farm with a secure market for all our growing efforts. The farm, in turn, commits to providing an abundant, diverse and quality array of vegetables and fruit.

In a strictly dollars and cents view, the worth of a share does represent a fair price for the produce offered ~ if such food could be comparably found in supermarkets. More philosophically, the worth of a share is certainly linked with the value you place upon eating fresh, locally grown food, knowing who it is that grows your food, sustainable methods of food production, in keeping our locally economy robust and your own eating habits and life style healthy.