Plus, farmers bypass wholesalers and stores that dilute profits. Members of a CSA get to know the people who grow their food. They can also meet other like-minded people. Members can learn gardening skills. Many CSAs allow members to help in the fields and may even offer a discount for the help.
Children learn where food comes from and gain a connection to the growing process.
Members receive fresh, healthy, seasonal produce each week from Spring through Fall. Some CSAs also offer flowers, fruit, meat, honey, eggs and dairy products. The organization is part of the University of Massachusetts Extension program. Click on the Robyn Van En Center for a list of CSAs in your state. For more detail about how a CSA works, or how to start one of your own, visit the website of a program based in Fayetteville, Arkansas called Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas.