More than a veg box scheme
CSA stands for “Community Supported Agriculture”. Developed in the 1960’s in Japan as well as by Black American professor of agriculture Booker T. Whatley, CSA programs are designed to build a relationship between the farmer and community and to make food accessible.
Soul Farm connects community and growers here in Cornwall so customers know what they’re getting. Labels like organic become irrelevant when you know exactly where your food comes from. As trust is built, you can communicate with the farm and give us feedback. It’s a membership, a club and a team. Community involvement is critical to the functioning of the farm and your support through commitment to the season is critical to cashflow. Check out these five reasons to join our CSA.
Watch a video that explains CSA
The Community Supported Agriculture network explain it better than we do:
This partnership between producer and consumer supports three pillars
which represent core values:
Fair Share
“A share in the harvest of healthy (mostly organic or biodynamic), local and low carbon produce; a connection with the producer, the land and each other. This includes a commitment to support the farmer through both good and poor harvests.”
People Care
“A fair and steady income for the producer and a relationship based on trust with the consumers/members. Access to healthy food at affordable prices.”
If Soul Farm have a bumper crop of lettuce, you’ll get a bumper supply of lettuce. If I’m a little short I’ll always make sure you get the value, but you might get less variety of veg.
Fair Share
“A chance for the land and biodiversity to flourish due to ecological farming methods and shared interest in these methods of production.”
The practices:
Direct distribution
Members have a relationship with the farm and the production. CSA farms are not food hubs or shops; although they may buy some produce or supplementary items in to bulk up their share. CSA may make up only part of the whole farm enterprise.
Shared
risk
Producer and consumer share the risks of production through investment in the farm
Connection to the farm
Members have the opportunity to understand the extraordinary commitment a farmer demonstrates to produce our food, and an opportunity to be connected to the working life of a farm and what’s produced there.