Community-Sponsored Agriculture Community-Supported Agriculture is a system of cooperative agreement between the farmer and the members (Curtis). People (the CSA “members”) contribute money or work hours to a farmer, and in return, receive produce from the garden. This idea, however, is nothing new; rather, farming, producing food, and harvesting that food to share with neighbors is something humans have been doing for thousands of years. Unfortunately, for most people in the United States, this connection has been broken. We don't know how or where our food is grown; we cannot touch the soil it grew in or talk to the farmer who grew it. Countering this trend is the new CSA movement: thousands of people, from all over the globe, who are …show more content…
In return for the shares, sometimes the members go to the farm, work on it themselves, and harvest their own food; in other locations, those who have purchased shares simply send in their money and receive their food by delivery (“Community Supported Agriculture”). Such arrangements result in several rewards, both for farmers and members. The the farmer receives payment earlier in the season, helping his farm's cash flow; he builds relationships by spending time with the people who eat the food he's grown; and he is able to spend time marketing his food early in the year, before his days are completely occupied with manual labor. Those who receive produce from the farmer not only get to enjoy fresh, healthy food, but they also get to see where their food grows; and are often exposed to new and unusual vegetables or new ways of cooking. All participants can enjoy the satisfaction that comes from being connected to the earth in a tangible way. According to a local CSA farmer, John Curtis, “[The CSA head is] almost like everyone's gardener, and their subscription to [the CSA] is more to the garden than to the vegetables”