What is CSA?

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is an alternative food supply chain that connects producers (i.e. farmers) directly to consumers (us). The connection goes beyond just eating the foods that are produced; consumers pay into the farm prior to the harvesting season, offering a “share” for that season’s produce. In return, the consumer receives a regular supply of fresh, organic produce or other farmed goods throughout the season. The consumer is not usually involved in the harvesting process. Harvested foods can be picked up at an established location or delivered right to your door on a weekly basis.

There are two main goals of community supported agriculture: First is to provide a stable economic opportunity for farmers in their local community. Second is to strengthen the community itself while reconnecting consumers with the food supply chain. 

How long has CSA been around?

While the established CSA program has existed for only a few decades, it is likely that similar producer-consumer partnerships existed long before. The first official CSA emerged in 1965 in Japan; called teikei, or “partnership” in Japanese, these partnerships were made first by a women’s group concerned by growing pesticide use, increased processed and imported goods outcompeting local products. These women connected with local farmers to establish the first form of a CSA.

The term “community supported agriculture” was coined in the 1980s, when Rudolf Steiner proposed the concept of biodynamic agriculture: all living things are dependent upon one another. European farmers adopted this idea in the USA, creating the first official CSAs in 1986 in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Since then, CSAs have been popping up all across North America where agriculture is abundant.

CSA vs Food Co-op?

Food Co-ops are similar to CSAs in that the consumers are at the forefront of food supply activities and typically offer natural foods. However, food co-ops are not directly connected to farms. Instead, they operate as a cooperative rather than a private company. Think of food co-ops as a food store controlled and operated by consumers. The foods offered, the prices and all other decisions generally left up to private corporate members are instead made by consumers.

Some food co-ops allow buyers to purchase a membership which allows them to participate in decision-making processes; members may be required to volunteer their time at these volunteer-based stores. Others are publicly owned. The main difference is that consumers are connected directly to food production through a CSA, while co-ops connect consumers to food distribution.

Benefits of CSA

There are many benefits to joining your local CSA, particularly from the social/environmental sustainability perspective. 

1. 1. Support local growers. You are directly supporting local farmers, putting well-earned money back into their pocket. This support is crucial in today’s rapidly urbanizing world. Learn more about the benefits of local foods in this post.
   2. Reconnect with your community. One of the main goals of a CSA is to reconnect consumers with their community and food. By joining a CSA you know who is producing your food and what options exist in your neighbourhood. 
   3. Keep food prices stable. We need farmers to eat and prevent prices from skyrocketing faster than they already are. The more farms that close, the higher prices will rise as we have to rely on farms that are further and further away from home. Learn more about rising food prices in this post.
   4. Fuel your body with fresh, wholesome foods. Getting your produce from a CSA guarantees you are receiving fresh, quality produce. The fresher the food, the more and higher quality nutrients that will be available.
   5. Reduce your environmental footprint. Not only are fewer carbon emissions created by sourcing all your produce locally, but organic processes expel fewer toxic ingredients into the environment from pesticides and fertilizers. Learn more about the impact of food-related emissions and pesticide use in this post.

      

Challenges

1. 1. Accessibility. Unfortunately CSAs may not be suitable for everyone, largely depending on the agriculture (if any) occurring in your area. If there aren’t any farms in the area a CSA isn’t going to work. In addition, some CSAs don’t do home delivery — this means the customer has to come to the farm or public pick-up site. If the site is only accessible by car (say, way up north in the country lands) then only those with a car can access it. This poses a challenge for elderly, disabled and anyone else without mobility. There may also be a specific date and time you are able to pick up foods, so you may have to re-arrange your schedule to make pick-up work. 
   2. Crop vulnerability. Part of the framework of a CSA is that consumers share the risks of farming with the farmer, reducing the load on the producer. This creates problems when harvests aren’t plentiful. There’s not much the farmer can do about that if the weather is not favourable for growing, if pests take over the crop or if soil health declines. Yields vary week to week. One week may have a larger and diverse delivery than the other. 
   3. Food prices aren’t necessarily cheaper. Foods are produced in smaller batches and are (usually) organic, so prices will be higher than conventional store prices. You are paying for quality, rather than quantity. There’s also the shareholder fee to participate.

Final thoughts

Overall, the decision to join a CSA depends on multiple factors. It may not be feasible for low-income households without personal vehicles, or those with special accessibility needs. There may not be a CSA in your area if you live in a food desert. Nonetheless, community supported agriculture is a great way to support your local economy, neighbours and environment, if you are able to.

Think about it this way: you are investing in your future. The future health of the environment, the future food availability, the future community. When looking at it through this perspective, spending a few extra dollars to support this future sounds reasonable to me.

To learn more about making sustainable food choices, check out these posts:

• What is food insecurity?
• The truth about farmers markets
• How to eat sustainably in the winter
• 5 easy, healthy and sustainable ways to eat well on a student budget
• What’s the deal with almond milk?
• What’s in Season: Spring Edition

What do you think about CSAs? Are you a part of one in your community? If so, what has your experience been like? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time!

To read more about CSAs, check out these resources (1, 2, 3 [this one is written by my professor, Dr. Steffanie Scott], 4, 5).