A CSA, by definition, is a Community Supported Agriculture. In a CSA, people buy “shares” in a local farm in advance of a growing season, and receive their return in produce. It’s like that CD you have had at the bank for 10 years, except you get a return out of a CSA. To answer the question “What is a CSA”, we will go over a few pro’s and con’s.
PRO:
They’re flexible. One of my favorite things about using a CSA is that they are flexible. All of the farmers operate differently, and many times personally. They can grow produce according to past purchases of shareholders, deliver produce if you’re sick, and put your kids to work when they’re driving you nuts. The point is, It’s really a relationship between you and your grower that dictates how and where you can get your produce.
CON:
There is no guarantee. If the tomatoes get blight, or your farmer produces 1,000 linear feet of beans and no lettuce or kale, you get what you get. Paying in to the CSA does not guarantee the type of return you get. Just like any investment, you’re in it for better or for worse.
PRO/CON:
Most likely, your share will consist of produce you may not normally use. Your farm has to grow a decent variety of produce to stay relevant. They may even have some things you’ve never heard of before. Until I met my wife, I thought kale was a form of seaweed, so I understand the plight. If you can manage a bit of positive thinking, this is a great way to broaden your cooking repertoire. Along with that, you’ll be adding a healthy variety of new vegetables into your diet that you would not have normally ventured into. It’s an adventure!
PRO:
You can learn how to farm. If you have been reading my blog at all, you know that I am starting at zero. Why do you think I’m interviewing CSA farmers and following homesteaders on Instagram? I’m a flippin cheater. One thing that Graham from Valhalla Farms told me was that you can always glean from other people and other styles of farming. Even just by going to the farm to get your produce or asking the farmer questions. If you are lucky enough to be within range of Graham and Bianca, you may learn more about farming than you even want to. These people are a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips.
PRO:
It’s fresh. Check out this article. It is not the only article ever published on the nutrients lost in food in time. The more freshly picked your food, the better. For instance, Bianca and Graham pick their produce the night before or the morning of pickup depending on the variety. Do you have any idea how long it takes from farm to store to table for produce at a place like Walmart or Meijer? Neither do they! I guarantee it wasn’t picked that morning!
These are just a few of the things that make up a CSA. In the simplest terms, at the beginning of a given year, you pay for a growing season and are given fresh, usually organic, healthy produce in return. Sounds like a good deal to me.
As always, start small, think big, and stay healthy!