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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] CSA start-up

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  • From: Fellenz <fellenz AT fltg.net>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] CSA start-up
  • Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:11:19 -0500

First off, I don't know that CSAs, Farmers Markets and Roadside Stands are mutually exclusive, I used to sell through all three and for the last two seasons have had both CSAs and a roadside stand along with PYO and restaurant sales. .
I look at it as a cascade for ensuring complete distribution of my produce. When I did all three, for any item that was in tight supply the CSA got first dibs, then the Farmers Markets and finally the roadside stand. For items in good supply, I put just a little more than I thought I could sell into each.
But, to answer the question why a CSA rather than farmers markets or roadside stands:

> I don't have to worry about rain on market day anymore. With the open air farmers markets we used to sell at, our sales dollars were much lower on rainy days. WIth the CSA, everything is already sold, so the weather doesn't negatively impact my sales.

> Cash flow - with the CSA my cash flow is better matched to my seasonal expenses. I start collecting money in March, just a few months after ordering seeds and supplies, rather than waiting until the first market at the end of May or in early June to get the first sales dollar. This year with one of my CSAs, the sponsoring church has already started collecting deposits, so I will have some seed money from the CSA in January when I start ordering seed.
Andy
www.FellenzFamilyFarm.com


Bill Shoemaker wrote:
I've found this thread interesting. It sounds like some believe the CSA model is more demanding on the grower than the roadside stand or farmers market model. In my area, long-established growers almost exclusively operate their own stands. There are some newer growers who use the CSA model or attend farmer's markets. I'd like to hear feedback on why you would use the CSA model rather than farmer's markets or roadside stands. Thanks for any responses.

Bill Shoemaker, Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
University of Illinois - St Charles Horticulture Research Center
www.nres.uiuc.edu/faculty/directory/shoemaker_wh.html






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