Cornell University Cooperative Extension

FOR MORE INFORMATION

CHECK OUT THESE WEBSITESwww.cce.cornell.edu/http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/http://localharvest.org/csa/www.adirondackharvest.com/

OTHER CONTACTSContact your local CornellCooperative Extension office

WORKPLACE CSA TIMELINE

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S Membership fees are paid atthe beginning of the growingseason

Spend time marketing the foodearly in the year, before their16 hour days in the field begin.

Receive payment early in theseason, which helps with thefarm’s cash flow

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Members are provided anallotted amount of fresh,seasonal produce every week

Sales and delivery only take afew hours each week

Establish a lasting relationshipwith your customers.

CSA, “Community Supported Agriculture”, is asubscription service provided by the farmer.

FARMER GUIDELINES

CCRREEAATTIINNGG AA WWOORRKKPPLLAACCEE CCSSAA

WHAT WILL THE BUSINESS EXPECTGETTING STARTED THE RIGHT CSA MODEL FOR YOU...

Each farm runs their CSA program differently. It is important to consider which model isbest suited for your farm and the needs ofthe businesses you will work with. Here arefew things to keep in mind:

LOGISTIC

SPRODUCE

When will a delivery fit into yourschedule? How many subscriptions doyou need in order to warrant a new dropsite? How many members can youprovide for?

Will members receive a pre-packaged boxof produce each week, or will they beable to select the goods that make uptheir share?

Consider the quantity of produce eachmember will receive per week. Will youoffer different sized shares?

Your workplace CSA may bring youconsumers that are new to the world offresh produce. Keep this in mind in yourmarketing. Newsletters or recipes couldbe beneficial.

Determine who will be responsible forcollecting payments and establish adeadline for subscribing. Businessesmay be reassured to know that theyare not financially liable for their

employees’ memberships.

SHARES

CUSTOMERS

PAYMENTS

ADVERTISE

Spread the word! Start advertising early(planning should begin in the winter months).

ESTABLISH YOURSELF

Schedule a preliminary meeting withinterested businesses to go over specificsand establish a point person. Goodcommunication is key!

MEET YOUR CUSTOMERS

Consider planning a sign-up day at thebusiness. Meeting you, the farmer, willencourage more employees to join the CSA.

RELIABILITY

Businesses will want to know that your farmis reliable. They may ask for references fromyour past CSA members

EXPERIENCE

During your preliminary meetings with abusiness, they may ask how many seasonsyou have been running your CSA. They willwant to know that you will be able toaccommodate their business.

ASSURANCE

CSA members may inquire about what willhappen to their shares in the event of cropfailure, or unfavorable weather. Be sure thatyou have a policy in place for bad years.

Many local businesses are looking to increasetheir “Worksite Wellness”. Initiativestargeting better health for employees are

proven to increase business productivity.

This provides the perfect opportunity for you,the farmer, to expand into a new market. Byworking together with area businesses to sellCSA shares to their employees, you canincrease your customer base.

WHY OFFERA CSA?

FOR MORE INFORMATION

CHECK OUT THESE WEBSITES

OTHER CONTACTSContact your local CornellCooperative Extension office

WHAT IS CSA?

CSA, “Community Supported Agriculture”,is a subscription service provided by localfarms. Membership fees are paid at thebeginning of the growing season, and inreturn members are provided fresh,seasonal produce each week.

These arrangements are flexible and varyfrom farm to farm, but a typical share inthe middle of the summer may include10-20 different vegetables in quantitiesfor a family of 4.

WHY OFFER A CSA?

www.cce.cornell.edu/http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/http://localharvest.org/csa/www.adirondackharvest.com/

BUSINESS MANAGERS GUIDE

Allows employers to support local farmbusinesses and be a great communitysponsor = easily and without additionalexpense.

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables willboost your employees’ energy levels andincrease overall productivity!

Proper nutrition reduces the risk ofchronic disease. Healthy employeeswill miss fewer work days and lowerhealth care costs.

W hy not make it easy t o access healt hyfood by pr oviding farm fresh pr oduce

direct ly at your wor ksite?

CCRREEAATTIINNGG AA WWOORRKKPPLLAACCEE CCSSAA

GETTING STARTED

THE RIGHT CSA FOR YOU….

LOGISTICS

Where and when do you want the sharesdelivered? Will this work with the farmer’sschedule? Does the farmer already deliverto a site near your workplace? If the CSAincludes meat or dairy products, do youhave refrigeration available?

PRODUCE

What types of produce will each memberreceive? Most CSAs deliver a pre-packagedbox with a variety of produce that is inseason. Some, however offer a varyingdegree of choice for their members.

SHARES

Ask the farmer about the quantity ofproduce each member will receive per week.Some farms offer full and half share optionsto meet the different needs of theirmembers.

PAYMENT

Determine who will be responsible forcollecting payments and establish adeadline for subscribing.

SUBSCRIPTION LENGTH

How long do you want the CSA to last?Some farms offer an extended season,providing produce into the fall and wintermonths.

Remember t hat a far m’s harvest

var ies fr om year t o year. Be sure t o ask

what wi l l happen t o t he CSA in t he event

of cr op fai lure or unfav orable weat her.

Ask t he far mer how many seasons t hey

have of fered a CSA. Look for a far m t hat

has at least t wo years of exper ience. Also,

don’t be afraid t o ask for references fr om

past members.

C ONSIDERA T IONS

Get approval from the appropriatemanagers and facilities.

Spread the word! Inform your employeesabout the CSA model and determineemployee interest.

Consider collaborating with a neighboringbusiness to increase the number ofparticipants.

Establish a point person to contact thefarmer and answer employee questions.

Each farm will run their CSA programdifferently. It is important to ask the rightquestions to find the farm that is bestsuited for your needs.

Here are few t hings t o keep in mind:

FINDING A FARM

Using the following sources create a list ofpotential farms:http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

Visit your local Farmers’ Market

Contact your local Cornell CooperativeExtension office

It may be beneficial to invite potentialfarms to your worksite for an open house.This would allow employees to play a role

in selecting your CSA farm.