What is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?
Posted September 3rd, 2010 by noelle | View Comments
Enjoying the farmer’s market and interested in getting more involved in the process by which food makes it way from the farm to your table? Loving the freshness of seasonal foods from local producers? I know that you’ve enthusiastically answered ‘Yes!’ to these questions. That’s why it’s time for you to consider investigating Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).
This movement in food production, gaining momentum since its beginnings about 20 years ago, is all about redefining the role that consumers play in the financing and distribution of food. Instead of purchasing food from a grocery store or farmer’s market, the end user actually becomes a stakeholder in the process, buying a ‘share’ in a CSA organization. In exchange for your investment, you’ll receive a selection of foods (usually fruits and vegetables, but sometimes dairy, poultry and other items, depending on the organization) each week. Buying a share in a CSA is a great way to enjoy the freshest seasonal foods produced by farmers in your area.
In addition to the gustatory perks of involvement in a CSA, you’ll be able to pat yourself on the back for being a part of a more sustainable movement in food production. The dollars spent on your share will benefit the farmers directly, helping small operations stay afloat in an era that often seems defined by industrialized food.
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