Chef in Residence
What is C.S.A?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA for short, is a relatively new way to support a very old system. It is just one of many ways a farm sells its bounty. Farmers' markets, selling retail or wholesale, growing for restaurants, etc. are other ways the farm brings in profit. Still, the farms that dedicate a portion or all of their land to a CSA feeds the idea of community.
The CSA model has consumers purchase a share, membership or subscription to a local farm and in return, they receive a box, bag or basket of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season. This is very advantageous for the farmer, as shares are sold even before the growing season begins. The funds pay for seeds, manure, tools and labor needed to support operations and production of the farm goods. All of the money is recycled back into the farm and maintains a win win situation as the farmer knows the production of the farm will never have waste and the consumer benefits from ultra fresh, nutrient dense food and a connection to the one who produces it. Members of certain farms also have the opportunity to help out either with growing the produce or helping with the daily chores such as weeding, harvesting and even sorting the bounty for the weekly basket collection. Farms may offer "working shares" which give the member a cut monetary rate in exchange for dedicated physical labor on the farm a certain amount of hours a week. Others offer this by way of formal invitations accompanied by a pot luck lunch or dinner when all the work for the day has been completed. This is invaluable for forming community connections not only between the member and the farmer, but also from member to member.
As you might expect with such a successful model as a CSA, farmers have begun to introduce variations to the concept. A common idea is the "mix and match," or "market-style" CSA. Rather than making up a standard box of vegetables for every member each week, the members load their own boxes with some degree of personal choice. The farmer lays out baskets of the week's vegetables. Some farmers encourage members to take a certain amount of what's available, leaving behind just what their families do not care for. Some CSA farmers then donate this extra produce to a food bank. In other CSAs, the members have wider choice to fill their box with whatever appeals to them, within certain limitations. (e.g. "Just one basket of strawberries per family, please.")
Today, CSAs aren't only confined to produce. Some farmers include the option for members to buy shares of eggs, homemade bread, meat, cheese, fruit, flowers or other, neighboring farm products along with their veggies. Sometimes several farmers will offer their products together, to offer the widest variety to their members. For example, a produce farmer might create a partnership with a neighbor to deliver chickens to the CSA drop off point, he CSA members can then purchase farm-fresh chickens when they come to get their CSA produce baskets. Other farmers are creating CSAs for meat, flowers, eggs, and preserved farm products at an additional cost.
There is an important concept of shared risk that is woven into the CSA model. The idea of shared risk is another part of what creates a sense of community among members, and between members and the farmers. For instance, if a hailstorm takes out all the peppers, everyone is disappointed together, and together cheer on the winter squash and broccoli. Most CSA farmers feel a great sense of responsibility and when certain crops are scarce, they make sure the CSA gets served first. This past season, blight, a plant disease which is caused by mildew, practically wiped out the tomato crops throughout the country. All farms were effected by it and needed to compensate other bounties in other ways to take the place of the much loved tomato week to week in the members baskets. This was unfortunate, but all members suffered and therefore rejoiced by banding together and putting great hope into the next year's growing season.
The CSA is a simple enough idea and its impact has been profound. Tens of thousands of families have joined, and in some areas of the country there is more demand than there are CSA farms to fill it. The government does not track CSAs, so there is no official count of how many there are in the U.S. LocalHarvest (http://www.localharvest.org), a web based guide to many farms in the country, has the most comprehensive directory of CSA farms, with over 2,500 listed in its grassroots database. In 2008, 557 CSA's signed up with LocalHarvest, and in the first two months of 2009, an additional 300 CSAs joined the site. In Rockland County, there is only one CSA in operation. Camp Hill Farm (http://web.mac.com/camphillfarm/Camp_hill_Farm/Welcome.html) is a biodynamic/organic farm located in Pomona. They have just started sending out contracts for their 20 family CSA which includes produce only with options to purchase additional shares of eggs, cheese, nuts and bread from other local sources. They offer working field days – which are open to members and the general public – and will be hosting a series of workshops such as organic gardening, building an outdoor bread baking oven and much more.
The beauty of a CSA is that you can pick and choose one that fits you and your lifestyle. Camp Hill Farm CSA would be for those that want to donate their time in addition to being a shareholder, but there are other nearby CSA's that may be located further away and offer delivery to a local pick-up point. These farms may not require members to work the land and only offer the benefits of the produce week to week. My feeling is that the CSA model is an adventure. You will be introduced to vegetables you may never see in the grocery store and may find a new favorite for you and your family. You are eating with the seasons and can begin to truly appreciate where your food comes from. You are also participating in purchasing your food from a truly local source instead of that head of lettuce that was grown in California, yours was grown almost in your own backyard. Serving the green beans for dinner knowing that you had a hand in growing, harvesting and packaging those beans for your own and your own communities enjoyment is truly a rewarding experience in many unspeakable ways.
The CSA model has consumers purchase a share, membership or subscription to a local farm and in return, they receive a box, bag or basket of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season. This is very advantageous for the farmer, as shares are sold even before the growing season begins. The funds pay for seeds, manure, tools and labor needed to support operations and production of the farm goods. All of the money is recycled back into the farm and maintains a win win situation as the farmer knows the production of the farm will never have waste and the consumer benefits from ultra fresh, nutrient dense food and a connection to the one who produces it. Members of certain farms also have the opportunity to help out either with growing the produce or helping with the daily chores such as weeding, harvesting and even sorting the bounty for the weekly basket collection. Farms may offer "working shares" which give the member a cut monetary rate in exchange for dedicated physical labor on the farm a certain amount of hours a week. Others offer this by way of formal invitations accompanied by a pot luck lunch or dinner when all the work for the day has been completed. This is invaluable for forming community connections not only between the member and the farmer, but also from member to member.
As you might expect with such a successful model as a CSA, farmers have begun to introduce variations to the concept. A common idea is the "mix and match," or "market-style" CSA. Rather than making up a standard box of vegetables for every member each week, the members load their own boxes with some degree of personal choice. The farmer lays out baskets of the week's vegetables. Some farmers encourage members to take a certain amount of what's available, leaving behind just what their families do not care for. Some CSA farmers then donate this extra produce to a food bank. In other CSAs, the members have wider choice to fill their box with whatever appeals to them, within certain limitations. (e.g. "Just one basket of strawberries per family, please.")
Today, CSAs aren't only confined to produce. Some farmers include the option for members to buy shares of eggs, homemade bread, meat, cheese, fruit, flowers or other, neighboring farm products along with their veggies. Sometimes several farmers will offer their products together, to offer the widest variety to their members. For example, a produce farmer might create a partnership with a neighbor to deliver chickens to the CSA drop off point, he CSA members can then purchase farm-fresh chickens when they come to get their CSA produce baskets. Other farmers are creating CSAs for meat, flowers, eggs, and preserved farm products at an additional cost.
There is an important concept of shared risk that is woven into the CSA model. The idea of shared risk is another part of what creates a sense of community among members, and between members and the farmers. For instance, if a hailstorm takes out all the peppers, everyone is disappointed together, and together cheer on the winter squash and broccoli. Most CSA farmers feel a great sense of responsibility and when certain crops are scarce, they make sure the CSA gets served first. This past season, blight, a plant disease which is caused by mildew, practically wiped out the tomato crops throughout the country. All farms were effected by it and needed to compensate other bounties in other ways to take the place of the much loved tomato week to week in the members baskets. This was unfortunate, but all members suffered and therefore rejoiced by banding together and putting great hope into the next year's growing season.
The CSA is a simple enough idea and its impact has been profound. Tens of thousands of families have joined, and in some areas of the country there is more demand than there are CSA farms to fill it. The government does not track CSAs, so there is no official count of how many there are in the U.S. LocalHarvest (http://www.localharvest.org), a web based guide to many farms in the country, has the most comprehensive directory of CSA farms, with over 2,500 listed in its grassroots database. In 2008, 557 CSA's signed up with LocalHarvest, and in the first two months of 2009, an additional 300 CSAs joined the site. In Rockland County, there is only one CSA in operation. Camp Hill Farm (http://web.mac.com/camphillfarm/Camp_hill_Farm/Welcome.html) is a biodynamic/organic farm located in Pomona. They have just started sending out contracts for their 20 family CSA which includes produce only with options to purchase additional shares of eggs, cheese, nuts and bread from other local sources. They offer working field days – which are open to members and the general public – and will be hosting a series of workshops such as organic gardening, building an outdoor bread baking oven and much more.
The beauty of a CSA is that you can pick and choose one that fits you and your lifestyle. Camp Hill Farm CSA would be for those that want to donate their time in addition to being a shareholder, but there are other nearby CSA's that may be located further away and offer delivery to a local pick-up point. These farms may not require members to work the land and only offer the benefits of the produce week to week. My feeling is that the CSA model is an adventure. You will be introduced to vegetables you may never see in the grocery store and may find a new favorite for you and your family. You are eating with the seasons and can begin to truly appreciate where your food comes from. You are also participating in purchasing your food from a truly local source instead of that head of lettuce that was grown in California, yours was grown almost in your own backyard. Serving the green beans for dinner knowing that you had a hand in growing, harvesting and packaging those beans for your own and your own communities enjoyment is truly a rewarding experience in many unspeakable ways.
