From spring salad greens to fall pumpkins, buying Community Supportred Agriculture (CSA) share offers consumers the chance to eat healthier while supporting a local farmer.
Choosing a CSA
The CSA experience typically begins in late winter or early spring when interested consumers buy into an individual farm. The farmer uses the share funds to buy seed and feed for animals and to cover other expenses. As the name suggests, share owners then share in the risk and the bounty of the harvest.
Growers benefit because they don't have to sell to a middle man and are able to share their farming knowledge with an interested audience. Buyers benefit from the fresh produce. Both growers and consumers reap economic benefits from the sale of regionally grown produce.
According to the Local Harvest CSA website, the number of CSAs has grown exponentially during the past two decades. For this reason, consumers should research local CSA farms in order to find a good fit. Consumers will want to consider variety of questions before commiting dollars to the CSA relationship.
- What crops are available through different CSAs?
- Does the CSA offer pick-your-own opportunities?
- Will you pick up the produce at the farm, a stand or a Farmer's Market?
- Does the CSA offer half or quarter shares?
- Does the CSA grow organic crops?
- Does the CSA have children's gardens? Educational opportunities?
- Is it important that the CSA provide milk, meat, eggs and poultry?
- Does the CSA encourage or require share owners to take part in the growing and harvest?
- Are the time of pick up and the location of the CSA a good fit?
- Does the CSA offer recipes? A newsletter?
- Are the location and the farm workers pleasant and welcoming?
- Is it important that the CSA provide fresh cut herbs and flowers in addition to produce?
- Does the CSA have family activities?
- Does the CSA support local foodbanks?
Supporting the Slow Food Movement
The availability of fresh food products that are neither processed nor preserved is a significant benefit of the CSA relationship. Share owners may enjoy introducing their families tasty new vegetable varieties.
The rise in CSA memberships is also a pivotal element in the Slow Food Movement. The antithesis of the American obsession with fast food, the Slow Food Movement encourages a return to family and community enjoyment of fresh foods, recipe sharing and the pure joy of culinary pursuits.
Green Eating, Green Living
Because the food is not packaged or transported over large distances, the entire CSA farms can offer fruit and vegetable varieties based on taste and texture rather than concentrating on heartier produce that will keep for weeks on end. Reduced packaging and shipping also means that CSA grown food is more environmentally friendly.
All in all, the CSA experience is a win-win experience for food consumers and local farmers.
Susan Hyde - I am a college English instructor, freelance writer, and homeschool mom to two wonderful boys, ages nine and eleven. After graduating from ...
