Since its development roughly 10,000 years ago, agriculture has played a major role in the development of human civilization. The expansion of agricultural techniques has allowed for new technologies and crops. The impact of agriculture over the years affects many areas of our lives. The sourcing of foods from every country on the globe has resulted in the loss of land suitable for producing crops. The loss of arable land is tied directly to several causes, including overgrazing, agricultural activities and industrialization.
In the 1960s, mothers in Japan became concerned about the health effects of these activities on their food, and thus the first CSA (community supported agriculture) programs were born. CSAs became a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Consumers buy “shares” from the farmer; a share typically consists of a box of veggies, with some fruits or other farm products. This share usually is received each week for the duration of the growing season. The relationship between farmer and consumer is advantageous for both parties.
For the farmer, this program provides working capital in advance that he or she may not otherwise have had or been able to get by without. CSAs also eliminate enormous amounts of time required to market products, allowing producers to focus on quality care of soil and crops, thus, eventually benefiting the consumer in a cyclical system.
The customer also benefits by receiving super-fresh food with better flavor and nutrition benefits. They are also exposed to new vegetables and thus, new ways of cooking different foods. The consumer is usually given the opportunity to visit the farm at least once during the season. Also, this gives the customer the benefit of developing a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and can learn more about how food is grown.
Today, tens of thousands of families belong to CSAs. In some areas of the country, CSA demand exceeds supply, with customers adding their names to a waiting list. There are different types of farm shares: some CSAs give members more personal choice in what they receive, while others are more of a luck-of-the-draw situation, with customers receiving a random selection of whatever is available that week.
CSAs aren’t necessarily confined to produce. For example, at Wholesome Acres Markets, a northeast Ohio-based CSA, the products range from free-range eggs and grass-fed meats to organic milk and cooking oils like coconut and olive. Owner Philip Liess, who holds a degree in horticulture from The Ohio State University's Wooster branch, owned a health food store before deciding to take his expertise to the streets - somewhat literally, as he often drives 13 hours in one day to deliver fresh produce. His local produce comes from Healthy Heritage, a pesticide-free farm. Healthy Heritage also practices biodynamicism by feeding the soil instead of merely just the plant. Wholesome Acres’ delivery zone includes 12 northeast Ohio counties. Customers outside the CSAs delivery zone, can request delivery for possible future expansion.
In the age of Internet-based interaction, the art of conversation and strong personal bonds are lost. When relationships are re-instituted at a grassroots level, the "field to fork" mentality begins to make sense. By strengthening these roots, the ability to promote virtues such as creativity, loyalty, and compassion can find a way back into our food, as well as our community.
To learn more about CSAs, visit the USDA, eatwellguide.org and localharvest.org.
