Community supported agriculture or community shared agriculture, commonly referred to as CSA, is a program where the farmer and the consumers come together directly, providing local fresh food to the supporters and a level of security that allows the farmer to invest in the farm.
Shareholders, or members, typically purchase a share in the season's harvest, paying a flat fee up front in advance - which gives the farmer income at the most costly time of the year.
The members then receive a weekly "harvest box" that includes whatever produce is being harvested at that time.
The season typically runs for about 20 weeks, from June through October.
In this region, a CSA may be growing cucumbers, carrots, eggplant, cauliflower, onions, salad greens, melons, beets, potatoes, zucchini, tomatoes, garlic, fruits or berries, and a variety of herbs.
Many CSA growers will also bring produce to local farmers' markets.
To find out more about CSAs and where to find them in the Vancouver and Fraser Valley region, check out the website of Farm Folk City Folk, a Vancouver based not-for-profit society that works to cultivate a local, sustainable food system, at www.ffcf. bc.ca.
