http://www.care2.com/greenliving/you-say-potato-i-say-csa.html
You Say Potato, I Say CSA
By far, the most ethical, most economically sensible, and rewarding changes I have made in the past year has been to join, and support, my local CSA. For the uninitiated, CSA is short for Community Supported Agriculture, and works on a subscription basis where individuals are asked to contribute in advance, or on a monthly basis, to an area farm, with the understanding that you will get a return on your investment in the form of a share of farm fresh food.
This socio-economic model has gotten a good deal of recent attention in the press, spurred on by rising food prices, eat local movements, as well as rampant food scares, but really the CSA model is hardly new. With established CSA farms in the United States dating back to the mid-80s, and European and Japanese models pre-dating those by at least 30 years, the CSA construct is a time-tested idea that maybe the beneficiary of a confluence of domestic problems.
As a parent, I have discovered an unforeseen benefit in joining my local CSA. I have long been a supporter of local farmer’s markets (I have fond memories of buying sacks full of sweet cherries from the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market as a teenager) and was convinced that the exchange between consumer and farmer over a folding table of farm-fresh vegetables was the pinnacle of righteous living.
I still frequent farmer’s markets, but have found the access and experience of belonging to a CSA makes for an entirely different experience, especially with children. There is a sense of undeniable ownership and esteem in knowing that our family has made a small, but significant, contribution to this farm (in the form of money and time spent planting onions) and that we are not just customers, but patrons.
We are not simply buying from the farmer, but we are “going to our farm” and picking up “our veggies.” This may be an issue of semantics for some, but I can’t help but thinking that all this is profoundly resonating with my child as he sprints through the rows of green beans chanting “our farm, our farm.”
Eric Steinman is a freelance writer based in Rhinebeck, NY. He regularly writes about food, music, art, architecture, and culture and is a regular contributor to Bon Appétit among other publications.
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3 comments
add your comment »We have had a "CSA" on our farm for over 20 years. We were asked by friends to raise veggies and meat for them, and have really enjoyed the interaction with "city" families. This year we are doing a few CSA 's shipping our products to people too far away to drive out here and see how the products are raised. We have also put together a cooperative of farmers and ranchers who are working together to make distribution centers. The farmer would own the product through to the sale, droppign off his produce once a week. Consumers could go to the stores, pick what products they need, not just get a box of stuff some of what may be needed and some not. Consumers would have an account, the money paid once a month and a credit of dollars in their account. At the store, they would pick what they need, and can go over or under their alloted amount, paying the extra with cash or keepign some in their account. We have begun this year with a small number of producers and consumers. This gives a huge variety of products available to consumers from milk, eggs, veggies, meat, jam's , breads etc. Much more than any one producer can make.
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I joined a CSA this year too and it is definitely the best thing yet in terms of teaching my son where his food comes from, and all about the environment and living in harmony with our planet. The visits to the farm are my favorite time of the week . . . good wholesome outdoor family time. It also makes dinner time easier. When I remind my 2-year-old that he picked his tomatoes off the vine, he decides they are delicious and eats every last one! Now we also grow some in the back yard and he is involved with every link in the food chain. He's even learned to be gentle with the plants and not to pick the fruit until its ripe. Thanks for writing about this topic!
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CSAs are great..I've been writing about my experience with eating inside my csa box
www.seasonalpantry.blogspot.com
also I have a petition to support legislation for the FDA to trace produce.
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