Community Supported Agriculture
People and communities across the country who want fresh, local, organic produce are turning to Community Supported Agriculture. CSAs focus on the production of high quality foods for a local community. They are organized with a shared risk membership and marketing structure.
Members who belong to CSAs typically pay the farmer an agreed upon amount at the beginning of the growing season. In return, the members receive a weekly allotment of fresh produce.
This kind of farming operates with a much greater degree of involvement of the consumers and other stakeholders than usual, resulting in a strong consumer-producer relationship.
If the nature is good and there is a goodly harvest the member shares the bounty…if a crop is less than expected, well that’s all part of working the land.
The wonderful thing about CSAs is that you get farm fresh food without the hassle of battling bugs yourself!
Many CSAs have expanded to include other produce such as farm eggs, raw milk and free range raised meat.
Local Food Bazaars and Farmer’s Markets are becoming big business, especially as more and more folks have become concerned about the quality of the food that they eat, and the impact that GMO farming practices are having on our planet.
Plus, there are the beneficial economics of CSAs. Studies have shown that for every dollar we spend at a chain store, about 15 cents stays in the area, while locally owned enterprises trap 30 to 45 cents.
Investing in local CSAs makes good sense….both for the tastiness and quality of the food we will have access to, and for the jobs and production they contribute to our communities.
“It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato.
~Lewis Grizzard
