Community Supported Agriculture

Community supported agriculture is a system in which a group of people within a given community start a small, often organic and/or sustainable farm operation run from planting to distribution by those community members.

The purposes of this system typically revolve around themes of ecology and localization. As such, these operations sell directly to community members as well.

"In basic terms, CSA consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community's farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production. Typically, members or "share-holders" of the farm or garden pledge in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation and farmer's salary. In return, they receive shares in the farm's bounty throughout the growing season, as well as satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land and participating directly in food production. Members also share in the risks of farming, including poor harvests due to unfavorable weather or pests. By direct sales to community members, who have provided the farmer with working capital in advance, growers receive better prices for their crops, gain some financial security, and are relieved of much of the burden of marketing." [Suzanne DeMuth, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): An Annotated Bibliography and Resource Guide. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC), National Agricultural Library (NAL), USDA, 1993. Available at AFSIC Website: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csadef.shtml (8/23/07)]

See also: Community Supported Agriculture Resources, AFSIC. http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa.shtml (8/23/07)