CSAs also allow for better off-season planning. If the farmer knows ahead of time what he's going to be able to sell, he can match planting to a pre-sold market. A committed consumer group providing a guaranteed income lends financial credibility in case the farmer seeks a loan or mortgage. CSA arrangements spread out the risks of farming. CSA farming has advantages similar to U-Pick operations, including reduced labor costs.
Consumers often help with production, harvesting and delivery.
By tailoring production to fit the market, crop waste is dramatically reduced. Containers are re-used until they wear out. Consumers return organic wastes to be composted. Produce need not meet market cosmetic standards, so little is discarded. CSA farming offers an urban-rural link that many feel is the soul of community supported agriculture.