Over the last 20 years, Community Supported or Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a "membership" or a "subscription") and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.
This arrangement creates several rewards for both the farmer and the consumer. In brief...
Advantages for farmers:
1. Get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin
2. Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm's cash flow
3. Have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow
Advantages for consumers:
1. Eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
2. Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
3. Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season
4. Find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm – even veggies they've never been known to eat
5. Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown
CSAs aren't confined to produce. Some farmers include the option for shareholders to buy shares of eggs, homemade bread, meat, cheese, fruit, flowers or other 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, so that the CSA members can purchase farm-fresh chickens when they come to get their CSA baskets. Other farmers are creating standalone CSAs for meat, flowers, eggs, and preserved farm products. In some parts of the country, non-farming third parties are setting up CSA-like businesses, where they act as middle men and sell boxes of local (and sometimes non-local) food for their members.
There is an important concept woven into the CSA model that takes the arrangement beyond the usual commercial transaction. That is the notion of shared risk. When originally conceived, the CSA was set up differently than it is now. A group of people pooled their money, bought a farm, hired a farmer, and each took a share of whatever the farm produced for the year. If the farm had a tomato bonanza, everyone put some up for winter. If a plague of locusts ate all the greens, people ate cheese sandwiches. Very few such CSAs exist today, and for most farmers, the CSA is just one of the ways their produce is marketed. They may also go to the farmers market, do some wholesale, sell to restaurants, etc. Still, the idea that "we're in this together" remains. On some farms it is stronger than others, and CSA members may be asked to sign a policy form indicating that they agree to accept without complaint whatever the farm can produce. Many times, the idea of shared risk is part of what creates a sense of community among members, and between members and the farmers. 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 to their members, and when certain crops are scarce, they make sure the CSA gets served first. Still, it is worth noting that very occasionally things go wrong on a farm – like they do in any kind of business – and the expected is not delivered, and members feel shortchanged.
This is the first year the Baxyard is participating in a CSA. We have purchased shares in Heritage Acres Farm located in Fort Scott, Kansas. We are all very excited to see what we get each week. Last week was our first "harvest" and it was really fun. We received some farm fresh eggs, lots of spinach and lettuce, japanese turnips, green onions and turnips.
Mostly I am looking forward to challenging myself to create some fun new recipes with all our "new" produce. Because, you get what you get. I hope to include some new recipes ... here is the first ... and so easy.
Japanese Turnips (I will be honest I had not even heard of these until last Saturday.)
Just grab a few of these. Cut off ends and dice like potatoes. I sauteed them in butter and a little brown sugar. At the last minute I added some pine nuts and golden raisins and then served them warm for breakfast. It was a real treat. And I really hope I get some more this week. Next time you see these bad boys in the store - pick up a few.
To find your own CSA, visit
Local Harvest and enter your zip code. Don't forget about all the great farmer's markets in the area also.
