CSA: Connecting Consumers to Local Crops
The Time Is Ripe to Invest in Community Supported Agriculture
It's winter time and Donna Galipeau is eager to start planting seeds at her Bellingham farm. By March, she will probably have several seedlings already growing in the high tunnel -- a type of greenhouse. By summertime, she will have tomato, squash, basil and a variety of greens ready to be picked up at Trolley Crossing Farm, which she and her husband own. Galipeau is among several local farmers who offer a community supported agriculture program.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is an innovative way to connect consumer and grower, each making a commitment to the other. Consumers and farmers work together: While the farmer grows and nurtures vegetables, consumers share the cost of supporting the farm. Members are called shareholders and invest money before the season starts. Once harvest time arrives -- usually June through October -- investors are rewarded with fresh produce each week.
As a member, you purchase a season’s worth of produce in advance. A "share" could cost between $500 to $600 on average. People typically buy shares any time from December through March. One share provides enough vegetables for two to four people each week, depending on your household’s eating habits.
CSA is taking root all around the nation. In 2007, there were 12,549 farms in the U.S. offering CSA. In Mass., more than 127 CSA programs are currently listed with the Dept. of Agricultural Resources. "They have increased significantly based on demand," said Scott Soares, commissioner of the Dept. of Agriculture Resources. "We have seen that many CSA's often have waiting lists because of the interest from people. This is the right time to be signing up. The earlier, the better."
Before the season even starts, a farmer needs to purchase seed, fertilizer, propane, equipment, and hire people to help plant. "It offsets their costs for production to get the investment up front. It's great for the farmers and great for the community members," said Soares.
Starting this season, Grateful Farm in Franklin will be offering CSA shares in addition to its Greenbucks program, and selling at farmers markets.
Each week when you arrive at the farm to pick up your produce there will be information telling you what everything is and what quantities you are to take. Throughout the season people have opportunities to visit the farm. People are always welcome to participate if they wish to learn more about how their food is grown. "People really like to come out and see the farm," reports Becky Calberg, CSA marketing director for Grateful Farm. A weekly newsletter tells shareholders what to expect in their share and provides recipes.
The vegetables in the share vary weekly as the seasons change. "In the spring you get a lot of greens and broccoli. The summer is more tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. In the winter is squash and onions," said Calberg, "We usually grow quite a variety."
The cost of one share is $525 for 21 weeks; from June to October at Grateful Farm. To reserve a share, people can make a deposit of $100 by March 15. They must pay the balance by April 30.
Since the 1990's Grateful Farm has offered a similar program called Greenbucks and it has been very successful. Investors who put in $100 for instance, would receive $125 worth of produce. With the Greenbucks program, people get to choose the foods they want week-to-week. "With CSA you get a surprise," says Calberg. "It's a way for people to get involved and get a discount."
White Barn Farm in Wrentham will offer 60 shares of their harvest for 2011. Shares cost $625 and can be held with a $125 deposit, which goes toward the full payment. Full payment at once provides the farm with the working capital it needs when it needs it most. But they will accept two more equal payments, due by February 1 and March 15, 2011. Harvest time is in early June and runs until late October, for a total of 22 weeks.
Some farms may require some of their shareholders to work. At Trolley Crossing Farm in Bellingham, they have offered a CSA program since 2009, said owner Donna Galipeau. People typically invest in the winter and must be fully invested by April. They ask that people do some work at the farm. "I use the farm as a learning tool," said Galipeau. "I want people to put in the energy so they can create their own garden."
It helps with the labor involved in the farm, but she said it also is an education for families. She asks people to help plant seeds, compost and mix, and harvest. "It's an education for children. I want to help them to connect with the earth and see what it takes to grow something."
When looking into CSA, if the investment is more than you wish, ask about half-share investments. Some farms may allow you to pick up every other week. Or, split the cost of your investment with another family; you may be able to alternate weeks that you pick up.
Tangerini's Farm in Millis offers a CSA program also. For 20 weeks of vegetables, it costs shareholders $650 ($625, by check). They also offer a half-share for $380 ($325, by check) for produce every other week.
People generally pick up on a designated day and time at the farm. White Barn Farm has pick-up days on Tuesdays and Fridays. You choose which day to sign up for and then pick up at their roadside stand 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. on your day. If you can't get to the farm, Trolley Crossing Farm makes their pick-ups more convenient when you visit their stand at a farmers market. They have their produce each week at the Franklin Farmers Market in the summer, said Galipeau. If someone wants to pick up their share, they will arrange to have it at the market which runs on Fridays from noon to 6 p.m. if they can't get to the farm, she said.
CSA is a win-win situation. "It's great for the farmers and great for the community members," said Soares. "With so much interest in access to locally grown food, fruits and vegetables, and meat and dairy products, we have seen an incredible increase in demand from people to be members of CSA," he said. "But also supporting your local farmer and local producers ties into community characteristics. Agriculture ties into the quality of life. More and more people see that supporting your local farm supports the character of the community. It gives them the ability to get great local wholesome foods and products."
CSA is not for everyone, however, said Erin Barnett, director for LocalHarvest. "Many CSA's lose 10-40% of their members at year's end," she says in an article on their website. "For some members, the necessary culinary creativity becomes a burden instead of a joy. Others find they don't actually cook as much as they thought, or hoped to. Still others get a bad case of greens fatigue." Based in Santa Cruz, Calif. LocalHarvest is a source for information on organic and local farms.
Community Supported Agriculture is a great way to support your local farmer, your community and yourself.
Franklin News, March, 2011
