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Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA) is an innovative direct marketing
system for farm products. CSA programs typically
involve produce, but in the Central Finger Lakes
region there are also several meat CSA farms. The
basic principals of CSA include:
- Community members agree
to purchase a farmer’s harvest in advance of
the growing season and a farmer agrees to grow
the food necessary to meet that commitment.
- All or most of the cost
for a portion, or “share”, of the harvest is
paid up front, providing farmers with funds
to purchase supplies for the season.
- When the harvest season
begins, CSA members receive a share of the harvest
each week.
- Opportunities to visit the
farm informally throughout the season and also
for special events.
Aside from these
basic principles, CSA programs can vary widely.
Some CSAs offer several share options designed for
different household structures – single adult, couple
or family. Others have one size and offer a discount
for multiple shares purchases. Sometimes members
can reduce their cost by committing to working on
the farm during the season.
CSA pick-ups can
start as early as the end of May and continue through
late November. CSA farms typically grown a wide
variety of vegetables, but some also offer fruits,
herbs and flowers. Sometimes certain crops are only
offered on a pick-your-own basis. Some farms, especially
those that grow for additional markets, offer a
very flexible share; members can choose from among
several options each week. Pick-up locations can
be on the farm, at the Ithaca Farmers market, or
other downtown or member-convenient location, and
some farms offer home delivery for an additional
cost.
There are risks
with CSA. Weather conditions vary from year to year,
which is one of the reasons many different crops
are grown; certain weather conditions benefit some
crops while stressing others. Therefore, the most
common risk is shortages of some vegetables and
excesses of others. In the case of extreme weather
conditions, the overall harvest may be reduced.
Typically, the overall amount of food received over
the course of the season is well worth the money,
even if members miss a week or two for vacation.
Consumers should
consider the amount of time involved in preparing
fresh produce. Many people are accustomed to the
convenience of canned, frozen or store-prepared
fresh produce. CSA produce is often rinsed down
on the farm, but will still need to be washed, peeled,
cored, sliced, chopped, etc. before it can be eaten
raw or cooked.
There are also many
benefits for CSA members, although some of them
are difficult to quantify. CSA produce is often
harvested the day it’s picked up. Fresh-picked produce
is high in nutrition; getting it right home for
proper storage will help retain that nutritional
content. The opportunity to develop a relationship
with a local farmer and learn about farming, either
while working on or visiting a farm regularly, provides
knowledge about the food and fiber system most people
lack. CSA members provide direct financial support,
as well as a supportive social network, for farms.
Both of these things help keep farms viable – and
on a larger scale, help maintain the rural landscape
we all appreciate.
Joining a CSA can
be a wonderful experience, and is a great way to
support local agriculture. A list of CSA farms serving
this area can be found in the Directory of Local
Food Producers, which also lists farm markets,
roadside stands and U-pick farms as well as producers
of honey, maple, meat, cheese, eggs and specialty
foods. This publication is available free from Cornell
Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County at 615
Willow Avenue in Ithaca, (607) 272-2292.
Debbie Teeter
is Senior Program Coordinator in the Agriculture
Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins
County. |
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