Since it began in the 1980s, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has
grown to include some 1,000 farms across the U.S. In a unique
arrangement, people buy “shares” in CSA farms in exchange for weekly
supplies of fresh products. It’s good for farmers, too. They receive a
fair, steady source of income and a chance to learn more about what
their customers like.
To tap into an increasing demand from consumers for fresh food
alternatives, USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) in November
assembled a list of CSA farms nationwide. Available in print as well as
on the World Wide Web, the list of more than 450 farms offers names and
contact information for CSA operations in almost every state. As part of
USDA’s sustainable agriculture program, which promotes a food system
that is profitable for farmers, environmentally sound and good for
communities, SAN created the list because sharing the expenses -- and
the bountiful harvests -- of local farms appeals to consumers.
“Given the growing interest in eating good, nutritious fresh food, we
wanted to provide a convenient source of information about community
supported agriculture,” says Jill Auburn, director of USDA’s Sustainable
Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which funds SAN. “CSA
provides a great opportunity for the producers and consumers of our food
to gain all sorts of benefits -- from fair wages to fresh food to
on-farm learning experiences -- because they live near each other.”
To access the new CSA list, see www.sare.org/csa/index.htm, where
you can search by state. Farmers and consumers can receive lists of CSA
farms in their states by writing to CSA/CSREES, 1400 Independence Ave.,
S.W., Stop 2207, Washington, DC 20250-2207. Organizations can request a
free copy of the printed CSA directory at the same address. (Please
specify whether you want a directory or a state list in your request.)
SAN collaborated with the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
(AFSIC) at USDA’s National Agricultural Library and the Cooperative
State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES), as well as
many nonprofit organizations to create the national CSA list.
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