CSA: Just a ‘vegetable subscription’? Or a way to truly connect with your farm?

Farm-connected CSAs should offer more than just ‘veggie subscriptions’ | Grist

grist.org 30 Apr '12, 6pm

CSA: Just a ‘vegetable subscription’? Or a way to truly connect with your farm?

I was recently struck by a promotion I saw on the site Local Harvest , which lists organic and locally grown food around the country. The site reads, “Many farms offer subscriptions for weekly baskets of produce, flowers and other farm products. Try a CSA this year!” “A subscription to local farm products?” I thought. “Is that all community-supported agriculture has become?” As the local food movement has gone from a trickle to a sweeping current, and sales of local farm products have grown, it seems that many community-supported agriculture (CSA) subscribers may have lost touch with the original intention behind the term. As a farmer, and one who’s researched and written about the history of CSAs in the U.S. and abroad , I find this trend deeply troubling. It seems many urban residents now see the CSA as just another form of “retail farming” rather than a model for civic ...

Full article: http://grist.org/locavore/csa-just-a-vegetable-subscripti...

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@FreshEarthFarms » 30 May '12, 12am
I thought this was a very interesting article. It reiterates my position that the whole concept of CSA has been... [link]
@troggshollow » 24 May '12, 3pm
Hey everybody, we talked about this at the meet and greet. I think it's a very good explanation of what a CSA... [link]
@BullRunMountain » 15 May '12, 6pm
Did you see this Grist article on the merits of CSA's? [link] #farm #agriculture #organic #community #green
@ediblesandiego » 13 May '12, 8pm
RT @kelidailey: More than a veggie subscription, thoughts on CSAs via Grist [link]
@kelidailey » 13 May '12, 8pm
More than a veggie subscription, thoughts on CSAs via Grist [link]
@blin90 » 10 May '12, 3pm
RT @EarthDaySF2012: Support your local CSA. Find them on [link] [link]
@Montero » 10 May '12, 1am
#CSA s are a model of...associative economics that can transform relationships." [link] #newecon #economy #cities #socent
@ajscholz » 06 May '12, 2pm
RT @foodtechconnect: CSAs are becoming mega popular. But have we lost their real meaning along the way? [link] via @grist
@Biodynamic » 04 May '12, 4pm
Pondering what the "community" part of community supported agriculture really means [link]
@rivervalleymkt » 04 May '12, 1pm
Interesting post on CISA page this morning about CSAs. [link]
@seedthatfeeds » 04 May '12, 6am
Farm-connected #CSAs should offer more than just ‘veggie subscriptions’ [link] #KnowYourFarmer
@GFSMiddleton » 03 May '12, 5pm
CSAs are about SO much more than convenience. Read more here: [link]
@lifeonmyfarm » 03 May '12, 12pm
What is CSA? At our farm, it is NOT just a vegetable subscription. I thought this article was worth re-posting.... [link]
@straturbanfarms » 02 May '12, 7pm
RT @Grammarnatrix: Is the purpose of CSA being watered down as popularity increases? [link] #LocalFood #LocalFarming
@BeckusMaximus » 02 May '12, 5pm
RT @FRESHthemovie: CSA: it's not just a vegetable subscription, it's a way to truly connect with your farm [link]
@DeepRootsFarm » 02 May '12, 4pm
Know your farmer! [link]
@FRESHthemovie » 02 May '12, 4pm
CSA: it's not just a vegetable subscription, it's a way to truly connect with your farm [link]
@taryngoodman » 02 May '12, 1pm
"CSAs are a model of...associative economics that can transform relationships." @RSFSocFinance [link]
@UrbanArbor » 02 May '12, 11am
RT @KAMIIGarden @SlowFoodUSA Farm-connected CSAs: more than just a "veggie subscription" says @grist [link]
@CultivateOxford » 02 May '12, 8am
Beyond convenience: CSA as retail farming or civic agriculture? Interesting article by CSA pioneer Elizabeth Henderson [link]
@sawyersutton » 02 May '12, 12am
Why a real #csa is the most important thing you can support do to improve the food supply here in the US. [link]
@matthewschommer » 01 May '12, 11pm
RT @jldailey618: i'm happy that @crownheightscsa is a true CSA! [link] we pay up front to ensure support for the fabulous Sang Lee Farms
@FreeRangeNan » 01 May '12, 11pm
CSA: convenient subscription service or way to create lasting relations between the people who grow and eat food? [link]
@hockeyeast » 01 May '12, 10pm
RT @ShayTotten: “@SlowFoodUSA: Farm-connected CSAs: more than just a "veggie subscription" says @grist [link]” #VT #BTV
@AAPremlall » 01 May '12, 10pm
RT @lexiconproject: RT @grist: This farmer says farm-connected CSAs should offer more than just ‘veggie subscriptions’ [link]
@jldailey618 » 01 May '12, 10pm
i'm happy that @crownheightscsa is a true CSA! [link] we pay up front to ensure support for the fabulous Sang Lee Farms
@FoodRevSarasota » 01 May '12, 10pm
Hear hear for CSAs RT @SlowFoodUSA Farm-connected CSAs: more than just a "veggie subscription" says @grist [link] #realfood
@ShayTotten » 01 May '12, 10pm
“@SlowFoodUSA: Farm-connected CSAs: more than just a "veggie subscription" says @grist [link]” #VT #BTV
@OshaWhatMag » 01 May '12, 7pm
RT @stoddartfarm: “@grist: CSAs are becoming mega popular. But have we lost their real meaning along the way? [link]” AMEN!
@StoddartFarm » 01 May '12, 7pm
“@grist: CSAs are becoming mega popular. But have we lost their real meaning along the way? [link]” AMEN!
@nickolaaguilarv » 01 May '12, 6pm
[link] Farm-connected CSAs should offer more than just 'veggie ...
@clarizasimo » 01 May '12, 6pm
RT @bkfarmyards: What does Community Supported Agriculture mean to you? [link] (sharing risks is soooo important to future of farming)
@CherylDanley » 01 May '12, 6pm
Good history on CSAs. RT @grist: CSAs are becoming mega popular. But have we lost their real meaning along the way? [link]
@CaseyJ_SFFood » 01 May '12, 6pm
Original purpose of a CSA was community involvement in local farms and shared risk. Sign up for a year-long membership! [link]
@VanWaFood » 01 May '12, 6pm
Do you have CSA? Thinking about getting one? Why? What does a CSA mean to you? Interesting article. [link]
@bkfarmyards » 01 May '12, 5pm
What does Community Supported Agriculture mean to you? [link] (sharing risks is soooo important to future of farming)
@brendawrites » 01 May '12, 5pm
What makes a CSA? RT @CUESA: Farm-connected CSAs should offer more than just 'veggie subscriptions' [link] via @Grist
@kimcollier » 01 May '12, 4pm
"a site-specific form of solidarity"--> @CUESA CSAs should offer more than just 'veggie subscriptions' [link] via @Grist
@MonkW » 01 May '12, 3pm
Farm-connected CSAs are a "community" [link]
@amybluesky » 01 May '12, 2pm
RT @DrBobBullard: Farm-connected CSAs should offer more than just ‘veggie subscriptions’ [link] via @grist
@lifeonmyfarm » 01 May '12, 2pm
I don't want to see gov't intervention in order to "define" CSA, but it does disappoint me to see what "CSA" has... [link]
@josiahfood » 01 May '12, 1pm
Many US CSAs much like UK box schemes via @grist farm-connected CSAs should offer more than just ‘veggie subscriptions’ [link]
@lazynui » 01 May '12, 1pm
yr CSA a subscription to local veggies or true connection to the farm the produce comes from? [link] @AskUmbra @BeeGlorious
@BeeGlorious » 01 May '12, 1pm
Is yr CSA simply a subscription to local veggies or a true connection to the farm the produce comes from? [link] via @AskUmbra
@Grammarnatrix » 01 May '12, 1pm
Is the purpose of CSA being watered down as popularity increases? [link] #LocalFood #LocalFarming
@paolarizomd » 01 May '12, 1pm
@FDOrganics thought you might find this interesting [link]
@grist » 01 May '12, 1pm
This farmer says farm-connected CSAs should offer more than just ‘veggie subscriptions’ [link]
@CTNOFA » 01 May '12, 1pm
"At their best, authentic CSAs are a win-win-win. Farmers get living wages and freedom from worry about profits... [link]
@simplynonna » 01 May '12, 4am
Grist-CSA's and the "box" mentality [link]
@MichaelRDimock » 01 May '12, 3am
Thoughtful piece. RT @grist: CSAs r becoming mega popular. But have we lost their real meaning along the way? [link]