Community Supported Agriculture is a creative economic model that connects consumers to local farms, and local farms to a reliable market. Through a mutual commitment, farmers and shareholders join forces to create a regional, sustainable food supply that preserves local farmland at the same time. The idea of Community Supported Agriculture has been around for about 20 years, and there are nearly 2000 CSA's across the country. While the principle of sharing risks and rewards between farmers and shareholders links all CSA's, each CSA will have its own unique way of operating. For more information about CSA's in general, try these links:
www.csacenter.org
www.sare.org/csa/
www.umass.edu/umext/csa/
How CSA Works at Appleton Farms
Families and households sign up at Appleton Farms in the winter to purchase a "SHARE" of the upcoming season's harvest at Appleton. The commitment in advance supports the costs of running the farm, which are mostly incurred in the spring planting season. A 2006 share costs $550 for members of The Trustees and $600 for non-members. From about the second week of June until the first week of November, approximately 22 weeks in all, shareholders come to the farm once a week to pick up a share. The farm crew sets up a farm stand distribution in the barn, Mix-and-Match style. Shareholders can fill their grocery bag or Appleton Farms canvas bag (more or less, depending on the week's harvest) with anything from the day's harvest. It's as simple as that.
More Than Just Vegetables
Appleton Farms CSA offers fresh, local produce at a price comparable to supermarket costs. Yet, CSA is about more than just vegetables. CSA is based on trust between shareholders, farmers they come to know, and the land from which we all eat. CSA encourages us to eat "in season" and to cook from what is available. CSA connects children to agricultural cycles and gives an invaluable opportunity for the hands-in-the-dirt experience that kids crave. Finally, in sharing the risk of each growing season with the farmers, shareholders can intimately appreciate the rewards of the harvest, season after season. In short, CSA promotes and supports environmental stewardship and responsibility, a local farming economy, and individual health.