CSA farmers need to determine how much and what to include in a share. Frequent and direct communication between farmers and members helps establish the amounts and types of food to include in a share. Farmers use records of the quantity of each crop planted, produced, and distributed to plan share amounts. Share amounts are typically what a household of two adults and two children eat in a week, but farms offer other options. According to CSA farmers, it is important to deliver a bountiful supply of high quality food to establish a sense of trust and confidence with members.
Most growers plant extra crops to allow for poor weather or pest problems.
If harvests are large, the excess can be offered to members as optional extras or sold at a farmers market. Customer preferences can pose management challenges. In farm surveys, CSA members show a preference for potatoes, tomatoes, corn, and lettuce. Unfortunately, some of these crops can be more difficult and expensive to grow for small, organic farms, and many have short seasons. Hendrickson explains, Sweet corn can be particularly troublesome within an organic system because of numerous pests.