The popularity of “Farm Sharing”, also known as Community Supported Agriculture (or CSA), is rapidly growing throughout the U.S. Farm Sharing helps farmers retain a constant demand for their farms’ products, and offers local residents the opportunity to take advantage of healthy, local produce at a reduced cost.

In a typical CSA system, local residents purchase an annual “share” of the farm’s crop. In return, shareholders receive a weekly portion of the farm’s harvest. Some CSA systems are focused solely on fresh produce, while others offer milk, eggs, meats – even homemade breads.

The purchase of a farm share allows consumers to budget a portion (or in some cases all) of their food costs over the span of their specific farm’s growing season. The economic benefits of farm shares can become quickly apparent within the first few months of membership.

Although the financial benefits of such an arrangement are attractive to many, the additional benefits of farm sharing have advantages for both the farmer and the consumer.

Advantages for the Farmer:

1. Get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin
2. Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm’s cash flow
3. Have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow

Advantages for the Consumer:

1. Ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
2. A sense of “giving back to the community” by supporting local agriculture
3. Exposure to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
4. Find that kids typically favor food from “their” farm – even veggies they’ve never been known to eat
5. Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown

Local Harvest, a non-profit organization that promotes the benefits of Community Supported Agriculture, maintains a comprehensive directory of programs throughout the U.S. Visit www.localharvest.org for more information on CSA programs in your area.

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