The Basics
What does CSA stand for?
Community Supported Agriculture
How long has CSA been around?
About 18 years
What is one way CSA can benefit the community?
Fresh produce, local economy, quality over quantity
(T or F) Farm to table programs only work in rural communities
False
What is the biggest impact that is causing CSA models to begin to change?
Technology
What is the main goal of a CSA?
To connect the local farmers to their community and vice versa
Where was the first American CSA founded?
New Hampshire and Massachusetts in the 1980s
How can farms build trust with their customer?
By doing farm visits/tours, and community service
Other than sustainability, what is the major benefit of having a farm to school program?
Improving student eating habits
What are the two main differences between a supermarket and a co-op?
A co-ops main goal is to invest money back into the community instead of profit. Co-ops also prioritize doing business with local food producers instead of sourcing food from overseas
What is one benefit to farmers?
A distribution of risks
About how many CSA farms developed across North America over an 18-year period?
About 1,700
What is the buy down model?
The modern CSA that allows members to load upfront sums onto an account and spend credits on produce as needed throughout the season
(T or F) Roxbury Farm CSA offers SNAP/EBT payment options
True
What event is thought of to be where the CSA model originates?
Many say it comes from a 1986 event where two new england farms offered shares in that seasons harvest
What is the distance in the U.S. between the farmer and the consumer?
About 1,300 miles
Why did farmers begin adopting CSA as a new farming method?
To support local communities and providing fresh food directly to families
What is a food hub?
Several local farms sell their produce in a single box to reduce the reliance on a single farm
How many locations do Roxbury Farm CSA’s have in the Capitol Region?
Five
What does CSA encourage instead of adversarial pricing?
Cooperation. What does that mean?
What model of funding is significant to the CSA model?
“Memberships” where community members buy a membership and receive a box of food sometimes as often as weekly
How quickly did CSA spread after it was first introduced in America?
It rapidly became a worldwide phenomenon
What are two ways a food hub is beneficial to consumers?
Provides variety, and more security for a good harvest
What are the two main types of food and grocery co-ops?
Member-owned grocery store and community-owned grocery store
What are the names of the farms that started it all?
Indian Line Farm in Massachusetts and Temple Wilton Community Farm in New Hampshire