Partnership: How Community Supported Agriculture grows good food

Many people think of community-supported agriculture as a fruit and vegetable box delivery or a bulk meat purchase. But at its very heart, CSA is a partnership between farmers and the people who eat the food they produce — and the benefits go well beyond just that relationship.

The connection provided by CSA is a stark contrast to the industrial food system dominated by large supermarkets, where producers and consumers are separated by a raft of other in-between enterprises. Restoring that direct relationship is incredibly beneficial for farmers. The upfront payment from customers (usually called subscribers or shareholders) means that producers have reliable, regular income to support their family as they farm. They also get their money at the point in the season when most financial investment is required, allowing them to avoid going into debt in the hope that they will be able to recoup their losses by their sales.

Read more of my article for issue 189 of Wellbeing Magazine here.