Organic Justice: A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Option for the Poor

[nosmokes]

This is great, but I'd also like to add that most of the CSAs I'm familiar with will go out of their way to accomodate low income folks, either w/ grants funded by the other members of the CSA or w/ some sort work trade that could be anything from making change at the farmer's market or working in the field if you want.

original-localharvest

A CSA Option for the Poor

For years, people have been trying to figure out how Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) projects could be made accessible to low income people. Economically, the CSA model is built on farmers' need for capital at the beginning of the growing season. Most CSAs ask their members to pay a lump sum for the entire season, a requirement that bars low-income people from participating.

Many farmers and food activists have been bothered by this, and some have worked together on solutions. Just Food is one well-known organization that develops CSAs for people in New York's underserved neighborhoods. One way they do this is by fundraising among wealthier CSA members to offset the cost of the low-income shares. This solution creates an economically diverse CSA and ensures that the farmers receive a fair price for their products.

But is it possible for a farm to open the doors of its CSA to poor people without working through a non-profit? We recently spoke with one farmer who has found a way to do just that, Crystine Goldberg of Uprising Farm.

Goldberg and her partner Brian Campbell founded Uprising with two intentions: saving heirloom and open pollinated seeds, and getting good food to people regardless of income. After three seasons as market farmers, Goldberg and Campbell started a small CSA last year. It exclusively serves low income people, and the members pay with electronic food stamp benefits, known as EBT.

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complete article here

[frazzled]

1. CSAs are fantastic

Or at least the one we belonged to during the years we lived in the Minneapolis-St Paul area was. Philadelphia Farms, in Osceola, WI, did offer some financial assistance, but as well they donate shares and surplus to local food shelves, and provide special programs for the disabled. The food was fantastic, and when my kids were young we always worked out on the farm a couple of times a summer before driving the shares back to town. They adored being sent out into the fields to pick vegetables, and then playing with the animals in the barn while we adults washed and bundled and packed.

In terms of price, one should know that you can split shares in a CSA. It's usually a ton of vegetables every week, and most smaller families will have problems using them all up (I was always making soups and roasted vegetable medleys by the end of the week). We split our share with another family, and that keeps the cost down and insures no waste.

We live in a very urban environment now, and usually use farmers markets during the growing season, but I'd love to participate in a CSA again. Alas, we are only two people in our family now, and I haven't found a convenient neighbor to split a share with yet.

Lastly, I don't think CSAs can ever be a really broad source of poverty assistance, since they are usually smallish. Maybe they can help out a few families, but this is not an answer to the greater problems of poverty and food in this country. A good start, though.

[knitter4democracy]

2. We have a wonderful CSA.

We pay weekly, though if you pay up front, you get a discount. They deliver to my door, too, and have free-range eggs for $2/doz. Great stuff.

At the farmer's markets around here, many of the vendors take food stamps. They advertise it, too.

[HeraldSquare212]

3. They're great - it's hard to get into one here in NYC they're usually fully subscribed. nt

[nosmokes]

4. That's really great to hear. I hope there'll be some more

opening up to fill the need.