Community supported agriculture directly connects farmers with consumers.  Consumers buy shares in the produce of the farm in advance.  This gives the farmer some early season prediction on income and he can manage the farm better and also have more security.  It makes it much easier for a small, organic farmer to stay in business and compete with large corporate farms.

What the consumer gets is very fresh produce, often a wide selection of sometimes hard-to-get organic food such as fresh leaf lettuce mixes and heirloom tomatoes, and an opportunity to reconnect with where their food comes from.  Many CSA’s have “U-pick-it” days or regular farm tours or visits.

CSA farmers often use sustainable or renewable farming techniques, improving the land that they are using and increasing soil fertility, diversity and wildlife habitat, when compared to large single-crop farms.  By delivering food locally, usually hand picked, pollution and use of non-renewable fuels is greatly reduced.

It is a win-win situation – the farmer, consumer and the environment all win with CSA’s.  Be sure to check out the local CSA’s in our area in our green guide.