Community Supported Agriculture

CSA’s, short for Community Supported Agriculture, are getting a lot of attention these days. So what is a CSA and how can it be useful for you?

CSA’s are not a new idea. They trace their origins to Japan where a group of people, seeing that the small family farms were rapidly disappearing, decided to do something to help the farmers. The community would purchase the harvest from the farmers in advance. By getting paid up front, the farmer received monies he or she would not normally get until after the harvest. This ensured the farmer could survive, even in the lean or bad years when most small farmers go out of business.

The community was rewarded in the bountiful years as well, as they are entitled to the additional harvest. This system is a win/win for the farmer who can concentrate on farming and not marketing his crop, and for the community that is able to consistently acquire locally fresh grown food. However, the greatest benefit came from the survival of small family farms that may have disappeared without this arrangement.

CSA’s are the right thing to do for the planet. The foods they produce are locally grown; this will reduce your carbon footprint. Just check out the labels in the grocery stores these days; China, Honduras, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand and the list goes on. Beyond saving energy, food that hasn’t traveled thousands of miles is more nutritious and just tastes better.

CSA’s do have their limitations. Oddly, some of the largest CSA’s are in the eastern United States where the weather is a major limiting factor to year round production. Even in California where most CSA’s operate year round, there are limitations on what can be grown. Some California CSA’s have been able to extend growing seasons using greenhouses and shade houses. But beware of anyone offering produce that is clearly out of season and claiming it is locally grown.

As consumers we have become accustomed to going to a grocery store and getting whichever fruits and vegetables we want at any time of the year. Joining a CSA may require adjusting some of your eating habits. You may get produce you have never eaten before. Greens like arugula, kale or Swiss chard. Heirloom tomatoes that are strange looking but taste magnificent. Fruits like loquats, jujubes and feijoas. Of course you’ll get traditional produce like lettuce, onions, cucumbers, oranges, avocados, etc…

Just remember that fruits and vegetables will only be available when they are in season. What you won’t get is squash, grapes and melons in January or winter squash in July. Some CSA’s grow only row crops; tomatoes, greens, squash and etc. Some CSA’s grow only tree crops; avocados, citrus and stone fruit (peaches, plums, etc.). Occasionally you may get two or more farms that join together to form a CSA that offers more variety.

Other local buying groups are often available and sometimes offer a greater variety of produce. These may be a better alternative for people that want traditional produce all year round. But be aware that just because the organization is local, it doesn’t mean the produce is. Remember, if it is out of season in the area that you live, it most likely won’t be grown there. Also, if the produce you purchase is said to be “organic”, it is sometimes difficult to ensure that it is, unless you know the farm that it comes from.

As you can see CSA’s are unique in that the members are partners with the farmers. Their support in paying in advance assists the small farmer in planning for the future. Rest assured that the fruits and vegetables in your weekly box were grown on the farm or farms that make up the CSA.

The Inland Empire CSA is made up of two Certified Organic farms, Sage Mountain Farm in Aguanga, California and De Luz Farms and Nursery in Temecula, California. For further information you can find us on the web at: http://www.inlandempirecsa.com or call us at 951-693-0272.


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Community Supported Agriculture By Melodee Leavitt CSA’s, short for Community Supported Agriculture, are getting a lot of attention these days. So what is a CSA and how can it be useful for you? CSA’s are not a new idea. They trace their origins to Japan where a group of people, seeing that the small family farms were rapidly disappearing, decided to do something to help the farmers. The community would purchase the harvest from the farmers in advance. By getting paid up front, the farmer received monies he or she would not normally get until after the harvest. This ensured the farmer could survive, even in the lean or bad years when most small farmers go out of business. The community was rewarded in the bountiful years as well, as they are entitled to the additional harvest. This system is a win/win for the farmer who can concentrate on farming and not marketing his crop, and for the community that is able to consistently acquire locally fresh grown food. However, the greatest benefit came from the survival of small family farms that may have disappeared without this arrangement. CSA’s are the right thing to do for the planet. The foods they produce are locally grown; this will reduce your carbon footprint. Just check out the labels in the grocery stores these days; China, Honduras, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand and the list goes on. Beyond saving energy, food that hasn’t traveled thousands of miles is more nutritious and just tastes better. CSA’s do have their limitations. Oddly, some of the largest CSA’s are in the eastern United States where the weather is a major limiting factor to year round production. Even in California where most CSA’s operate year round, there are limitations on what can be grown. Some California CSA’s have been able to extend growing seasons using greenhouses and shade houses. But beware of anyone offering produce that is clearly out of season and claiming it is locally grown. As consumers we have become accustomed to going to a grocery store and getting whichever fruits and vegetables we want at any time of the year. Joining a CSA may require adjusting some of your eating habits. You may get produce you have never eaten before. Greens like arugula, kale or Swiss chard. Heirloom tomatoes that are strange looking but taste magnificent. Fruits like loquats, jujubes and feijoas. Of course you’ll get traditional produce like lettuce, onions, cucumbers, oranges, avocados, etc… Just remember that fruits and vegetables will only be available when they are in season. What you won’t get is squash, grapes and melons in January or winter squash in July. Some CSA’s grow only row crops; tomatoes, greens, squash and etc. Some CSA’s grow only tree crops; avocados, citrus and stone fruit (peaches, plums, etc.). Occasionally you may get two or more farms that join together to form a CSA that offers more variety. Other local buying groups are often available and sometimes offer a greater variety of produce. These may be a better alternative for people that want traditional produce all year round. But be aware that just because the organization is local, it doesn’t mean the produce is. Remember, if it is out of season in the area that you live, it most likely won’t be grown there. Also, if the produce you purchase is said to be “organic”, it is sometimes difficult to ensure that it is, unless you know the farm that it comes from. As you can see CSA’s are unique in that the members are partners with the farmers. Their support in paying in advance assists the small farmer in planning for the future. Rest assured that the fruits and vegetables in your weekly box were grown on the farm or farms that make up the CSA. The Inland Empire CSA is made up of two Certified Organic farms, Sage Mountain Farm in Aguanga, California and De Luz Farms and Nursery in Temecula, California. For further information you can find us on the web at: http://www.inlandempirecsa.com or call us at 951-693-0272.