Community supported agriculture...the story so far

Kirstin Glendinning

kirstin.glendinning@googlemail.com

CSA is...

“ ... any food, fuel or fibre-producing initiative...

... where the community shares the risks and rewards of production...

... whether through ownership, investment, sharing the costs of production, or provision of labour.”

CSA is based on a relationship of mutual support.

Farmer-run CSAs

Buying groups

Community Owned Farms

Low level of commitment

(Light Green)

High level of commitment

(Dark Green)

Scale of commitment

• Commitment• Risk-sharing• Shared ethics• Access to land - education

So, CSA…• Not a prescribed model• Offers greater accountability to the consumer • Provides secure and fairer return for the

producer• Encourages sustainable forms of agriculture• A tool for transition

Key characteristics

CSA:• Provides fresh healthy produce from a known

source• Provides producers with a stable market and a

fairer return for their produce• Keeps money in the local economy• Reduces ‘food miles’ and promotes sustainable

agriculture• Creates new social networks, a sense of

community and trust

Benefits of CSA

Where it all started...

From a biodynamic farm in Switzerland - Topinambur, in the early 1980's...

..to a global network of farms on every continent, today

The USA

First CSA farms emerged in late 1980s

Now 13,000 CSA farms

Mainly vegetables

Farmer-led model – private enterprises, subscriber members

Regional CSA organisations – advise on consumer mobilisation

Strong political representation www.localharvest.org

Japan

Emerged in 1970s, forerunner of organic movement

Consumer response to industrialisation of food production

Popularised as result of numerous food scares in 1980s

Now 1000+ ‘Teikei’s’Mainly vegetablesConsumer-led model – urban

hubs sourcing from farming co-ops

Seasonal farm visits www.joaa.net

Germany

Solidarity!

Whole-farm CSA's

'Give what you can, take what you need'

Mainly biodynamic

Most in the north

France

AMAP – Association pour le Maintien de l’Agriculture Paysanne

3000+ now

AMAP = the consumer group

Italy

Ethical purchasing groups

First vegetables...

...then dried foods, Solar panels, Insurance, clothes...

www.retegas.org

Belgium

Pick your own!

CSAs in the UK

• 45 trading CSA’s • 100+ in development• Vegetables in south-west, meat in north• Also bread, honey, cheese and milk• Average of 69 members per CSA• Average age just 3 years

CSAs in the UK

Varying models

• Producer-led 24%

- producer offers share of production (grower’s box

scheme)

• Producer-community partnership 23%

- community enterprise works with one or more producers

• Community-led 53%

- community owned and run-enterprise (32% of CSA’s run solely by volunteers)

What do they produce?

• Vegetables 73%

• Fruit 35%

• Meat 22%

• Other 22%

- honey, cheese, bread

(29% of farms trade bought-in produce)

(58% have annual income under £32,000)

(17% have income over £160,000)

Swillington CSA• Since March 2007

• 40 members

• No work obligation

• Fri/Sat collection – pack own veg

• Monthly socials

• Annual/quarterly/ monthly payment options

The Fowl Co-op and Pig Club

• Member-led CSA – committed market for local organic farm

• 6 month sign-ups• £60 = 6 chickens• Chickens delivered to

urban farmers’ market• 1 farm tour/year

Swillington Sheep CSA

• Members provide loans of £100

• 18 month repayment, 4% interest in lamb meat

• Supporting 2 new farmers

• Sheep are property of the farmers

Stroud Community Agriculture

• 50 acres - biodynamic• 2 full-time farmers on £20k/yr• Paid administrator &

membership officer• 200 shares (veg & meat) • £35/month + £2/yr membership • IPS – one member, one vote• Citrus fruit & olive oil from

Spanish sister farm• Regular volunteer days & social

events

Loxley Valley Community Farm - Sheffield

• 5 acres• 25 members• Pig, turkey, egg,

chicken & vegetable shares

• All work done by members

• Company limited by guarantee: member = director

Community Supported Bees - Bungay

• 25 members• £20 per year• Visits to hives• Hive in members’ gardens• Invitation to honey harvest

and bee party in autumn• Regular updates and

photos• Wax and honey share

Peer support – fledging UK CSA network & charter

But many barriers Weather Recession

And competition Box schemes Farm shops Supermarkets...

The future?

Further infoUK:

Soil Association website - CSA pages – UK CSA Network

www.soilassociation.org

International:

Urgenci international network of CSA's:

– “fostering peer-based solidarity among Community-Supported Agriculture initiatives worldwide to actively contribute to the food sovereignty movement”

www.urgenci.net