community supported agriculture... the story so far kirstin glendinning...
TRANSCRIPT
CSA is...
“ ... any food, fuel or fibre-producing initiative...
... where the community shares the risks and rewards of production...
... whether through ownership, investment, sharing the costs of production, or provision of labour.”
CSA is based on a relationship of mutual support.
Farmer-run CSAs
Buying groups
Community Owned Farms
Low level of commitment
(Light Green)
High level of commitment
(Dark Green)
Scale of commitment
• Commitment• Risk-sharing• Shared ethics• Access to land - education
So, CSA…• Not a prescribed model• Offers greater accountability to the consumer • Provides secure and fairer return for the
producer• Encourages sustainable forms of agriculture• A tool for transition
Key characteristics
CSA:• Provides fresh healthy produce from a known
source• Provides producers with a stable market and a
fairer return for their produce• Keeps money in the local economy• Reduces ‘food miles’ and promotes sustainable
agriculture• Creates new social networks, a sense of
community and trust
Benefits of CSA
Where it all started...
From a biodynamic farm in Switzerland - Topinambur, in the early 1980's...
..to a global network of farms on every continent, today
The USA
First CSA farms emerged in late 1980s
Now 13,000 CSA farms
Mainly vegetables
Farmer-led model – private enterprises, subscriber members
Regional CSA organisations – advise on consumer mobilisation
Strong political representation www.localharvest.org
Japan
Emerged in 1970s, forerunner of organic movement
Consumer response to industrialisation of food production
Popularised as result of numerous food scares in 1980s
Now 1000+ ‘Teikei’s’Mainly vegetablesConsumer-led model – urban
hubs sourcing from farming co-ops
Seasonal farm visits www.joaa.net
Germany
Solidarity!
Whole-farm CSA's
'Give what you can, take what you need'
Mainly biodynamic
Most in the north
France
AMAP – Association pour le Maintien de l’Agriculture Paysanne
3000+ now
AMAP = the consumer group
Italy
Ethical purchasing groups
First vegetables...
...then dried foods, Solar panels, Insurance, clothes...
www.retegas.org
Belgium
Pick your own!
CSAs in the UK
• 45 trading CSA’s • 100+ in development• Vegetables in south-west, meat in north• Also bread, honey, cheese and milk• Average of 69 members per CSA• Average age just 3 years
CSAs in the UK
Varying models
• Producer-led 24%
- producer offers share of production (grower’s box
scheme)
• Producer-community partnership 23%
- community enterprise works with one or more producers
• Community-led 53%
- community owned and run-enterprise (32% of CSA’s run solely by volunteers)
What do they produce?
• Vegetables 73%
• Fruit 35%
• Meat 22%
• Other 22%
- honey, cheese, bread
(29% of farms trade bought-in produce)
(58% have annual income under £32,000)
(17% have income over £160,000)
Swillington CSA• Since March 2007
• 40 members
• No work obligation
• Fri/Sat collection – pack own veg
• Monthly socials
• Annual/quarterly/ monthly payment options
The Fowl Co-op and Pig Club
• Member-led CSA – committed market for local organic farm
• 6 month sign-ups• £60 = 6 chickens• Chickens delivered to
urban farmers’ market• 1 farm tour/year
Swillington Sheep CSA
• Members provide loans of £100
• 18 month repayment, 4% interest in lamb meat
• Supporting 2 new farmers
• Sheep are property of the farmers
Stroud Community Agriculture
• 50 acres - biodynamic• 2 full-time farmers on £20k/yr• Paid administrator &
membership officer• 200 shares (veg & meat) • £35/month + £2/yr membership • IPS – one member, one vote• Citrus fruit & olive oil from
Spanish sister farm• Regular volunteer days & social
events
Loxley Valley Community Farm - Sheffield
• 5 acres• 25 members• Pig, turkey, egg,
chicken & vegetable shares
• All work done by members
• Company limited by guarantee: member = director
Community Supported Bees - Bungay
• 25 members• £20 per year• Visits to hives• Hive in members’ gardens• Invitation to honey harvest
and bee party in autumn• Regular updates and
photos• Wax and honey share
Peer support – fledging UK CSA network & charter
But many barriers Weather Recession
And competition Box schemes Farm shops Supermarkets...
The future?
Further infoUK:
Soil Association website - CSA pages – UK CSA Network
www.soilassociation.org
International:
Urgenci international network of CSA's:
– “fostering peer-based solidarity among Community-Supported Agriculture initiatives worldwide to actively contribute to the food sovereignty movement”
www.urgenci.net