Summer 1994 (v6n3)
	Small Farmers Jam "Subscription" Farming Conference by Gail Feenstra, SAREP More than 125 people, most of them small family farmers, packed a UC Davis meeting hall in December 1993 ~ for a workshop on community supported agriculture (CSA) or "subscription" farming. The conference detailed the CSA concept, in which consumers purchase subscriptions from nearby farms, allowing farmers to plan ahead to meet the needs of prepaid customers. Co-sponsored by SAREP, UC Small Farm Center, Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), UC Cooperative Extension and Fiddlers' Green Farm, the one-day workshop reflected the growing interest of farmers who are seeking more markets for their produce, and consumers who are pursuing local fruits and vegetables. Andrew Lorand, a longtime CSA consultant and agriculture teacher at the Sacramento Waldorf School, began the day's events with an overview of CSAs in the United States, their history and some fundamental principles. Subscription farming began in Western Europe and Japan in the mid-1960s, first appeared in the U.S. in the mid-1980s, and has recently been gathering momentum in California. Consumer Contact Lorand said all CSAs have the same fundamental idea Farmers sell directly to a group of consumers who agree to buy "shares" in the farmer's harvest in advance. Both farmers and consumers share in the risk and the bounty of the harvest. Consumers receive weekly boxes of fresh, seasonal, local produce, often produced organically. Farmers have a guaranteed market and income for working capital. According to Lorand, besides the concept of shared risk, one of the most appealing things about a subscription farm is that there is direct, personal contact between growers and consumers. It is a socioeconomic model that can be adapted for any community. He noted that today, there are more than 400 CSAs around the country and the number is growing rapidly. The program continued with talks by three CSA farmers including Sue Temple of Fiddlers' Green Farm, Capay Valley; Judith Redmond of Full Belly Farm, Capay Valley and CAFF executive director; and Steve and Gloria Decater of Live Power Farm in Covelo. They discussed the differences in their CSAs, their reasons for beginning subscription farming, marketing strategies for different clientele, farm production organization, the preparation of produce boxes, educational and communication strategies they have developed with their shareholders, and the challenges of CSAs. Each CSA representative described a different method of dealing with shareholders depending upon the type and number of members, the percentage contribution the CSA income makes to their entire farming operation and other factors. Full Belly Farm finds the presence of an organizer at one of its distribution sites to be invaluable. Full Belly farmers have developed creative ideas to determine the right mix of vegetables to plant to fill their 175 weekly boxes; Redmond described the contents of typical boxes for each season. In addition to a diverse farming operation of their own, Full Belly farmers sometimes trade vegetables for fruit or different vegetables from other organic farmers in their neighborhood. They have also learned how to combine their farmers' market operation with their CSA business, allowing them to shift items back and forth as necessary. Farm Diversity Key Redmond noted that not only is diversity important on the farm and in the CSA boxes, but biological and economic diversity is a crucial element for the survival of agriculture in California. She said the concept of community supported agriculture "allows us to put our vision and hopes for California agriculture into practice. CSA works against short-term concentration of resources. It improves California agriculture by giving consumers a choice in the future." "We're creating an economic partnership between farmers and consumers by establishing a direct, stable market," she said. "This also allows us to exchange ideas with subscribers about our food system and California agriculture." The Decaters, who are developing a solar power-based farming system and plow with draft horses, sell 100 percent of their produce through the CSA. They have developed a loyal group of shareholders in San Francisco and are building their rural membership in Covelo and Willits. Their San Francisco shareholders insisted that they increase their share price by 45 percent when they had to raise money to make major farm improvements. They said that at first they were reluctant to raise prices, but now feel it was the right decision. The Decaters spend a lot of time marketing their CSA to potential Customers. They said it is important to explain to people what they already pay for vegetables at the supermarket over the course of a year and how par. participating in a CSA can be better for them. The Decaters emphasized the importance of freshness, quality, variety, support for the local community and the connection subscribers will have with the farm. Identify Goals Sue Temple discussed the "nuts and bolts" of starting and operating a CSA from her perspective at Fiddlers' Green. Before the Temples started their CSA, they identified the short- and long-term goals of doing a CSA and thoroughly researched organizational production and marketing issues. Temple suggested that before beginning a CSA, it is important to know the individual farm. Then the farmer can decide if a CSA would complement the existing operation or how the operation might shift to accommodate a CSA. Temple noted that it is essential to know the consumer base, including the family size, ages, buying and eating habits and financial capabilities. Finally, she suggested that CSA farmers make a commitment to a relationship with their land and with their consumers. Temple said that education and communication are essential elements in building community among shareholders. In addition to communicating with customers through a newsletter, the Temples make opportunities available for their members to visit the farm for work days and potlucks. Members and their families can see the seasonal rhythms for themselves as they help with planting, harvesting or simply enjoy the beauty of the farm. The Temples believe in the CSA approach because it helps people understand where their food comes from, connects them with the earth and with each other. After a panel discussion and question-and answer period, more than 50 participants drove to Fiddlers' Green Farm for a farm tour and more personal discussions with Temple, co-owner Jim Eldon, and harvest manager Liz Milazzo. Workshop participants' enthusiasm led to a second CSA conference in March in Escondido in Southern California co-sponsored by UC Cooperative Extension and the Small Farm center For more information on CSAs, contact David Visher at the Small Farm Center; Faustino Munoz, UC Cooperative Extension in San Diego at (619) 694-2846; or Gail Feenstra, SAREP at (916) 752-8408. Proceedings of the December 1993 Davis workshop are now available for $8 through the Small Farm Center; make checks or money orders payable to "UC Regents." VISA/Master Card purchases may be made by calling the Small Farm Center at (916) 752-8136. [ Back | Search | Feedback ]