Community Supported Agriculture, Human Capital, and Community Health

Community supported agriculture (CSA) strengthens the local food system (LFS) and plays a critical role in promoting human capital (HC) and addressing social determinants of health (SDH). Most CSAs develop relationships that build a sense of community, and engage in activities that facilitate access to food and economic opportunities. CSAs may also contribute to personal development, education and income, working experience, and knowledge. CSA principles align with the principles of HC, specifically the pursuit of economic development. While research on the connection between CSA and HC has broadly focused on the economic aspect, the human development dimension has remained at the conceptual level. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential HC contributions by CSA and the implications for health outcomes in central/northern New Mexico. Primary and secondary data were collected through a semi-structured, open-ended questionnaire and an internet search. Purposive sampling was used to select 13 CSAs. Eight (61.5%) responded and reported activities that address HC and SDH such as training, job creation, education, access to healthy food, food security, health education and disease management, social connections, and food justice. Given the potential impact, public health must contribute to CSA by generating evidence on its health and social benefits, training practitioners on supporting local food program, and promoting policy that stimulates the local economy, fosters social relations and food justice, and empowers community members. This study calls for research and practice to take a multilevel perspective on the contribution of LFSs to equity and wellbeing.

Agricultura Apoiada Pela Comunidade (CSA)

Críticas à crescente industrialização da agricultura têm incentivado sistemas alimentares diferenciados a partir de relações entre produtores e consumidores. Registra-se um aumento exponencial de Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) em todo o mundo. Na Alemanha, as CSAs expandiram-se mais lentamente e somente em anos recentes passaram a desfrutar de maior atenção do público. Neste artigo, objetivamos situar historicamente as CSAs, valorizando as suas especificidades e características e delineando tendências mais recentes. A metodologia constou de revisão de literatura e de entrevistas com atores-chave que participam da coordenação e com associados de duas experiências de CSA. Os principais resultados mostram iniciativas e tendências convergentes para a expansão de sistemas alimentares sustentáveis em novos estabelecimentos agrícolas na Europa. Influenciam nas iniciativas, a demanda das pessoas por produtos regionais, a possibilidade de rastreabilidade, o desejo de cooperação, e a consciência sobre os efeitos climáticos globais nos modos de vida, dentre outras razões.

Kontribusi Community Supported Agriculture untuk Gerakan Agraria di Indonesia: Pelajaran dari Jerman

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a model of cooperation between food producers and consumers in carrying out agriculture that has emerged in Global North’s countries. The establishment of CSA is related to the desire of a few people striving for a more equitable food system than the global and industrial food system which marginalizes the welfare of farmers. Building on the ethnographic study of the CSA Garten Coop in Freiburg, Germany, and comparing it with studies of CSA in other countries, this paper tries to explore the possibilities of how CSA can offer farmers an alternative agricultural model for the sustainability of their farm and its contribution to agrarian movement, especially in Indonesia. The results show that CSA provides this alternative through rearranging the food system with a more democratic, autonomous, and equal management of production resources, income certainty for farmers through consumer commitment and by the solidarity economy, and independence through the principles of sustainable agriculture. Therefore, CSA indirectly contributes to the agrarian movement by providing the possibility for farmers to maintain their farming business, along with their land tenure or ownership, as well as a forum for organizing farmers and consumers to raise awareness of the food system. Keywords: Agrarian Movement, Community Supported Agriculture, Solidarity Economy, Producer-Consumer Partnership. Intisari: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) merupakan model kerjasama produsen dan konsumen pangan dalam menyelenggarakan pertanian yang banyak muncul di negara-negara Global Utara. Pendiriannya tak lepas dari keinginan segelintir orang mengupayakan sebuah sistem pangan yang lebih adil dari sistem pangan global dan industrial yang meminggirkan kesejahteraan petani. Dengan menggunakan studi etnografi pada komunitas CSA Garten Coop di Freiburg, Jerman dan membandingkan dengan studi-studi atas CSA di sejumlah negara lainnya, artikel ini disusun untuk menelusuri kemungkinan tentang bagaimana CSA dapat menawarkan model pertanian alternatif bagi petani untuk keberlanjutan usaha taninya dan kontribusinya terhadap gerakan agraria, terutama di Indonesia. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa CSA memberikan alternatif ini lewat pengaturan ulang sistem pangan dengan manajemen sumber daya produksi yang lebih demokratis, otonom, dan setara, kepastian pendapatan bagi petani lewat komitmen konsumen dan ekonomi solidaritas, serta independensi melalui prinsip pertanian berkelanjutan. Oleh karena itu, CSA secara tidak langsung berkontribusi dalam gerakan agraria dengan memberikan kemungkinan bagi petani untuk mempertahankan usaha taninya, berikut penguasaan atau kepemilikan lahannya, sekaligus wadah pengorganisasian petani dan konsumen untuk menumbuhkan kesadaran akan sistem pangan. Kata Kunci: Community Supported Agriculture, Ekonomi Solidaritas, Gerakan Agraria, Kerjasama Produsen-Konsumen.

Offsetting the cost of community-supported agriculture (CSA) for low-income families: perceptions and experiences of CSA farmers and members

Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is an alternative food marketing model in which community members subscribe to receive regular shares of a farm's harvest. Although CSA has the potential to improve access to fresh produce, certain features of CSA membership may prohibit low-income families from participating. A ‘cost-offset’ CSA (CO-CSA) model provides low-income families with purchasing support with the goal of making CSA more affordable. As a first step toward understanding the potential of CO-CSA to improve access to healthy foods among low-income households, we interviewed 24 CSA farmers and 20 full-pay CSA members about their experiences and perceptions of the cost-offset model and specific mechanisms for offsetting the cost of CSA. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and coded using a thematic approach. Ensuring that healthy food was accessible to everyone, regardless of income level, was a major theme expressed by both farmers and members. In general, CSA farmers and CSA members favored member donations over other mechanisms for funding the CO-CSA. The potential time burden that could affect CSA farmers when administering a cost-offset was a commonly-mentioned barrier. Future research should investigate various CO-CSA operational models in order to determine which models are most economically viable and sustainable.

Incentivizing wellness through community supported agriculture: Reflections on shareholder impacts of an employer-based CSA voucher program

Community supported agriculture (CSA) programs are emerging as popular consumer options for pro­duce acquisition. While many researchers have dis­cussed the impacts of CSA on economies, commu­nities, and the environment, others are interested in documenting how produce-based CSA shapes health. In this paper, we evaluate whether and to what extent CSA incentive programs, funded by diverse employer groups in central Kentucky 2015–2018, impact shareholder wellness. To evaluate impact, we use two distinct types of data: we com­pare shareholders’ perceived frequency of food lifestyle behaviors from pre- and post-season sur­veys, and we examine anonymized medical claims from a subset of these participants to determine if CSA participation impacts short-run usage of medical services. From survey data, we observed statistically significant changes in some shareholder behaviors. For instance, CSA shareholders per­ceived that they consumed vegetable salads more often while decreasing their intake of processed foods and snacks. From medical claims data, share­holders are billed less in diet-related medical claims following CSA participation compared to a control group from the same employer organization. In short, we find that CSA is generally beneficial and participants view their experience as providing motivation to reshape their relationship to food. We conclude by offering strategies for institutions and organizations to effectively develop and support CSA incentive programs.

Community-supported agriculture (CSA): significance and prospects for growth for individuals, communities, and food systems.

Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is an alternative way of supplying food based on direct interaction between producers and consumers. As an alternative food network (AFN) and a form of civic agriculture, it is considered a more sustainable way of food production and consumption compared to the conventional food system. The number of CSA initiatives has been increasing in the last few decades worldwide parallel to growing scholarly debates about its usefulness, viability and potential. This article contributes to the review of the following: The impacts of CSA on individuals and communities, including motives for involvement and benefits received; the impacts of CSA on food systems, particularly on sustainability; and the barriers and opportunities for CSA growth. We conclude that CSA addresses the needs for sustainable and ecologically sound food and contributes to community building by reconnecting urban and rural places and people with their food. It is also an active position against the unsustainable dominant food systems and shows a different way of caring for the planet and the people. However, in order to grow, CSA needs to overcome certain barriers, namely financial difficulties, unrealistic member expectations and the need for social justice by providing livelihoods for the farmers and becoming more inclusive in terms of race, income and gender. The COVID-19 crisis presented an opportunity for CSA to become more effective as the CSA initiatives demonstrated resilience during lockdowns and the demand for their products increased.

A Socially-Based Redesign of Sustainable Food Practices: Community Supported Agriculture in Italy

Several grassroots initiatives in the last two decades have shown the need for different food practices that should be locally based and founded on ethical goals of social and environmental justice. Among the many “alternative food networks”, the Community Supported Agriculture model is particularly significant and interesting. By redefining meanings and social norms around food practices, this model actualizes significant processes of food re-socialization and re-territorialization. Focusing on Italy, this study aims to contribute to the understanding of the potential of this model. It does so through two investigations carried out in 2019 and 2020, aimed at analyzing, respectively, structural and organizational aspects of CSAs and the features of resilience shown by these initiatives during the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. On the whole, the two surveys give us the image of a radically innovative experience, potentially capable of deeply redefining production and consumption practices, being rooted in socially-shared knowledge, motivations, willingness, commitment and sense of community. In addition to being characterized by a determination to pursue sustainability and equity goals, the model shows a remarkable character of resilience thanks to the original arrangements that the common value basis and the strong sense of interdependence and solidarity of its members can provide.

Greenhouse and High Tunnel Production of Specialty Cut Flowers

The objective of this study was to determine best production practices for five different specialty cut flower species at an altitude of 7200 ft. Region-specific information about cut flower production is important because of unique environmental conditions. We grew five specialty cut flower species in two different growing environments: a greenhouse and a high tunnel. Flowers were grown year-round in the greenhouse and during late spring through fall in the high tunnels. We also used pinching as another production method for the potential increase in branching. The goals were to test the effects of species, growing environment, and pinching on the days from sowing to harvest, stem length, number of stems cut per plant, and marketable yield. Experiments were conducted at the University of Wyoming Laramie Research and Extension Center in Laramie, WY, to assess the potential for producing specialty cut flowers for local consumption. The species used in this study included ‘Princess Golden’ pot marigold (Calendula officinalis), ‘Lucinda Mix’ stock (Matthiola incana), ‘Double Mix’ strawflower (Helichrysum bracteatum), ‘Dara’ ornamental carrot (Daucus carota), and ‘Celway Mix’ cockscomb (Celosia argentea). Results showed significant species × environment and season interactions, indicating the importance of species and production practice selections. We successfully sold the cut flowers to the university student farm for community-supported agriculture shares and farm market sales, as well as to a local florist for use in floral arrangements. This study concluded that careful species selection for season and growing environment is essential for the successful integration of these niche cut flowers into current or future greenhouse and high-tunnel production in Wyoming.