Community Supported
Agriculture
(CSAs)
Fresh, Local, Organic, Seasonal and
Wholesome Food!
Christos Vasilikiotis
Comparison of the Industrial and
Ecological Models of Agriculture
Industrial model
Ecological model
Energy intensive
Information intensive
Linear process
Cyclical process
Farm as factory
Farm as ecosystem
Single enterprise
Monoculture
Many enterprises
Diversity of plants and animals
Low-value products Higher-value products
Single-use equipment Multiple-use equipment
Passive marketing
Active marketing
Sustainable Agriculture
• Ecologically sound - respect
for the environment
• Economically viable
• Socially just - provide social
benefits to the farmer, the
farmworkers and the
community
Organic Farming is an ecological
production management system
• Promotes and enhances
biodiversity
• Promotes biological cycles and
soil biological activity
• Minimal use of off-farm inputs
• Employs management practices
that restore, maintain and
enhance ecological harmony.
Certified Organic Acreage in Greece
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Community supported agriculture (CSA) or
Box scheme
•
CSA Benefits to the
community
Connection with
the farmer: knowing who and
where grows your produce
• Learning about new vegetables and how to
use seasonal ingredients
• Eliminating packaging transportation costs
(both direct costs and environmental costs) On average food in the US travels 1300mi.
Most CSA members live within a 30-40 mile
radius of the CSA farm. In addition, there is
minimal packaging required and most CSAs
reuse their boxes.
• Produce does not need to meet market
cosmetic standards, so little is discarded.
CSA Benefits (cont.)
• CSAs create a sense of social responsibility
and stewardship of local land.
• CSAs supports the biodiversity of a given
area and the diversity of agriculture through
the preservation of small farms producing a
wide variety of crops.
• CSAs keeps food currency in the local
community and contribute to the maintenance
and establishment of regional food
production.
Benefits to the Farmer
• Tailor crops to their market. Farmers can
plan ahead of time which crops they need
and avoid crop waste that is so common
with conventional farms.
• With a "guaranteed market" for their
produce, farmers can concentrate in
growing healthy food for their customers
• The system eliminates the middlemen,
resulting in a good income for the farmer
and reasonable prices for the consumer.
• Allows farmers to farm in a sustainable
way, in diversified farms.
Special challenges
• Requires farms that are diversified and
grow a large variety of crops
• Educate consumers about the delights
of eating in-season produce
• CSA farms can become management
nightmares if done on too large a scale
• CSA farming requires good people
skills.
J an
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery
Broccoli
Turnips
Carrots
Beets
Asparagus
Asian Pears
Fennel
Lettuces
Spinach
Stir Fry Mix
Fresh Onions
Garlic
Walnuts
Daikon
Greens
Salad Mix
Leeks
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
J un e
J uly
Aug
S ep t
Oct
No v
De c
Jan
Onions
Green Beans
SummerSquash
Flowers
Potatoes
Peaches
Corn
Cucumbers
Melons
Basil
Eggplant
Tomatoes
Sweet Peppers
Winter Squash
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun e
July
Aug
S ep t
Oct
No v
De c
Full Belly Farm
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CSA with 650 members
15 wholesale & 15 retail accounts
Three farmers markets
35 full-time workers year-round
Owners’ entire income comes from the farm
Produces 120 crops on its 200 acres
October 12 box Contents
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Sweet peppers
Green beans
Carrots
Salad mix
Butternut
squash
• Apples
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Garlic
Pomegranate
Broccoli
Onions
Potatoes
Fairview Gardens is now a 12-1/4 acre island surrounded by tract homes and
shopping centers. It produces more than 100 different fruits and vegetables, feeds
500 families, and employs more than 20 people.
young celery grows in the alleys of our peach orchard, a space that's wasted in most
commercial orchards.
Organic Farming in Greece
• 18% of the population is involved in
agriculture
• Average plot size is 4.3 hectares
• Organic farming in Greece represents
only 0.7% of total agricultural land
• Organic farmers get 600-900 Euros/ha
for 5 years