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Buying Local: Options from The Heartland
Post Entry #10 | 7-23-09
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Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Over the last 20 years, Community Supported 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.
Advantages for farmers:
* Get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin
* Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm's cash flow
* Have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow
Advantages for consumers:
* Eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
* Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
* Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season
* Find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm - even veggies they've never been known to eat
* Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown
Tens of thousands of families have recently joined CSAs and demand outstrips farms in some areas of the US. 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
As you might expect with such a successful model, farmers have begun to introduce variations. One increasingly common one is the "mix and match," or "market-style" CSA. Here, 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 prescribed 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.
Other Distribution Models
Another new venture getting underway is helping farmers market and distribute out of the Charlottsville area. A non-profit called The Local Food Hub is working from a warehouse serving presently a 5 county area closing supply and demand. The Hub will act as a consolidator and distributor for local farms looking to tap into larger, consistent markets like restaurants and grocery stores. "At this early stage in the game, we've already visited 15 small producers in the region, seven of which plan to send us supply on a major scale," explains co-founder Marisa Vrooman. "We are starting with a small number of independently owned businesses and local non-profits, and hope to work with them on a consistent basis."
The Future of Local
As the interest for going local with our produce and other food products keeps growing let's keep moving forward with sustainable and sensible practices in growing and distributing our food at home. Here is where we can shine in innovative systems through teamwork. In the US here let's remember that we we need to reward our farmers, encourage and take care of them in this land of plenty we call home. It isn't an easy life and they are providing an invaluable service. It's now easier than ever before to reach out with a handshake, a smile, and a "vote". We are blessed with fertile lands and temperate weather. Where organic practices go in the future, as well as distribution systems, maybe the goal might be to go as local as possible while moving towards more certified organic practices from these sources. One thing is certain, we're all involved in where it goes.
Links
Savor Wisconsin Farmers market listings, local food resource
Local Harvest.org THE Community Supported Agriculture(CSA) resource: Real food, real farmers, real community
Local Food Hub
Food Hub Blog
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