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Farm Experience for the Whole Family: Community Supported Agriculture
How can you introduce your family to a farm experience this summer, get a variety
of fresh vegetables and fruits for nearly six months and reduce your grocery
costs? The short answer is to join a group that supports community supported
agriculture (CSA) in our area.
The formal CSA is a relatively new concept, whose origin is usually traced to
Japan, where “Teikei” was first initiated in 1965. The Japanese movement translates
the term “Teikei” as “food with the farmer’s face on it,” although a more literal
translation is “partnership.” This special form of consumer-farmer partnership
spread to Europe, and was transplanted to Massachusetts in 1984. Over the past
two decades, CSAs have multiplied in the US everywhere that consumers want the
security and peace of mind that come from having a “share” in a farmer’s harvest,
and farmers want the security and peace of mind that come from having a committed
and prepaid market for a variety of truck-farm crops.
Robyn Van En at the Center
for CSA Resources describes the CSA as a relationship of mutual support and
commitment between local farmers and community members who pay the farmer an
annual membership fee to cover the production costs of the farm. In turn, members
receive a weekly share of the harvest during the local growing season. The arrangement
guarantees the farmer financial support and enables many small-to-moderate-scale
organic family farms to remain in business.
The CSA creates "agriculture-supported communities" where
members receive a wide variety of foods harvested at their peak of
ripeness, flavor and vitamin and mineral content. While there are
many kinds of CSAs, all include payment in advance at an agreed upon
price. In some, members of the community purchase a "share" of
the anticipated harvest, while in others they sign up for a predetermined
amount of produce over the course of the season. In most cases, this
commitment implies a willingness to share with the farmer both the
bounty from the land and at least some of the risks involved with
production. In return for fair and guaranteed compensation, consumers
receive a variety of freshly picked, (usually organic) vegetables
grown and distributed in an economically viable and ecologically
responsible manner.
Last summer I joined a local Community Supported
Agriculture program that operates through Andy Fellenz’s farm in
Phelps and became an advocate! A couple of Sunday mornings weeding
and picking tomatoes and peppers on his property gave me an appreciation
of the effort required to grow and harvest our food. Every Monday
after work, at a distribution point in the Canandaigua area, I picked
up my share of vegetables and fruit. The freshness and variety sold
my husband on the value of being part of a CSA. While that was also
important to me, I enjoyed the people I met and the satisfaction
of being part of the farming process, even in a limited role.
 If
you are interested in learning more about CSAs, and the benefits
of this partnership, please contact Cornell Cooperative Extension
of Ontario County at 585-394-3977, ext. 427 or 410 and ask for
our free brochure on Community Supported Agriculture. Spring is
the time to stake your claim to a “share” of fresh farm produce
for the season, and help keep Ontario County rich in farms as you
do!
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This
site brought to you by The Ontario County Agricultural Enhancement
Board In cooperation with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario
County, the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, and Ontario County
Department of Planning. Canandaigua, New York 14424
585-396-4455
or 585-394-3977. |
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