What is Community Supported Agriculture ("CSA")?

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What is Community Supported Agriculture?

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) provides a mutually beneficial arrangement between farmers and consumers. People join by purchasing a "share" of produce pre-season, then pick up their weekly produce from a central drop point in their area during the harvest season.

CSA Benefits for the farmer? When signing up, you dedicate yourself to being a customer for the season, providing the farmer a secure market. CSAs enable farms to share the risk and abundance of producing food with the consumer, resulting in a more direct and rewarding link between farmer and community. (Payment in the Spring also provides cash to the farmer when it is needed most.) 
(Courtesy of Borski Farms.)

CSA Benefits for the shareholder? No more guessing where your food comes from! Members receive a weekly supply of diverse produce with "the farmer’s face on it." You can talk with the farmer, and many offer opportunities to visit the farms. Your produce is harvested and delivered directly to you, generally via a drop–off point, ensuring the freshest produce with a high nutritional value. You also get the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting a local farm. 
(Courtesy of Wasatch Community Gardens)

Other Information Resources:

• Wikipedia’s entry on "Community Supported Agriculture"
   
• USDA: National Agriculture Library – "Community Supported Agriculture"
   
• USDA: National Agriculture Library – "CSA Resources for Farmers"