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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Community Supported Agriculture "CSA"

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  • From: Allan Balliett <igg AT igg.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Community Supported Agriculture "CSA"
  • Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2005 17:57:37 -0400

Pat - Please do us all a favor and push for "Local and Organic." Without local people insisting on organic produce, it's very hard for a local person to make the transition. "Local is Enough" movement really cuts the legs out from under the spread of organic agriculture to ALL communities. REMEMBER: most of the governments of the world offer some sort of financial incentives for farmers to transition to environmental and resource-friendly organic management.

My apololgies to Mark for my too loud reply earlier. I don't agree with it, of course, but here's the 'definition' of CSA from the Robyn Van En CSA Center page:

CSA is a relationship of mutual support and commitment between local farmers and community members who pay the farmer an annual membership fee to cover the production costs of the farm. In turn, members receive a weekly share of the harvest during the local growing season. The arrangement guarantees the farmer financial support and enables many small- to moderate-scale organic family farms to remain in business. Ultimately, CSA creates "agriculture-supported communities" where members receive a wide variety of foods harvested at their peak of ripeness, flavor and vitamin and mineral content.
As Wendell Berry identifies, "how we eat determines to a considerable extent how the world is used." With this in mind, it is important to remember that the goals of CSA support a sustainable agriculture system which . . .

provides farmers with direct outlets for farm products and ensures fair compensation

encourages proper land stewardship by supporting farmers in transition toward low or no chemical inputs

strengthens local economies by keeping food dollars in local communities

directly links producers with consumers allowing people to have a personal connection with their food and the land on which it was produced

makes nutritious, affordable, wholesome foods accessible and widely available to community members.
There are many kinds of CSA. All include payment in advance at an agreed upon price. In some, members of the community purchase a "share" of the anticipated harvest, while in others they sign up for a predetermined amount of produce over the course of the season. In most cases, this commitment implies a willingness to share with the farmer both the bounty from the land and at least some of the risks involved with production.
In return for fair and guaranteed compensation, consumers receive a variety of freshly picked, (usually organic) vegetables grown and distributed in an economically viable and ecologically responsible manner. Some farms also offer fruit, herbs, flowers and other products. In this way, farmers and members become partners in the production, distribution and consumption of locally grown food.
One fact also to consider, organic food produced with local communities is not the same as organic food transported over long distances. When members obtain food from local farmers, environmental costs associated with the transport, processing and distribution of organic food and the consumption of fossil fuels are significantly reduced. Considering that the organic food available to members was produced locally rather than transported over long distances, the cost to the environment is significantly less.

-Allan




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