Community-supported agriculture
Community-supported agriculture
Community-supported agriculture (kəˈmjuːnɪti səˈpɔːrtɪd ˈæɡrɪˌkʌltʃər, abbreviated as CSA) is a system that connects the producer and consumers within the food system more closely by allowing the consumer to subscribe to the harvest of a certain farm or group of farms.
Etymology
The term "Community-supported agriculture" was coined in the United States in the 1980s, inspired by the European biodynamic agriculture movement, and specifically the Swiss farmer co-op model. The term is a translation of the German word Gemeinschaftserzeugnisse, which means "community-produced goods".
Related Terms
Description
In community-supported agriculture, a farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Typically, the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may also be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a "membership" or a "subscription") and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.
This arrangement creates several rewards for both the farmer and the consumer. In brief:
- Farmers get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16-hour days in the field begin.
- Consumers get to eat fresh from the farm produce.
- Consumers get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking.
- It creates a stronger sense of community through shared risk.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Community-supported agriculture
- Wikipedia's article - Community-supported agriculture
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