8 Reasons to Buy Into Community Supported Agriculture

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a movement connecting consumers to farmers, ranchers and other producers in their own region. The trend has grown in the last 20 years as a means of eliminating the middle man, and it's working so well that CSAs have cropped up across the U.S.

Basically, a CSA allows consumers to purchase an annual "share" in a local farm, ranch or other producer. In return for this one-time payment, they receive a box or bag of food each week during the growing season at a greatly reduced price from that found in a supermarket or even a farmers market. Typically, each share includes a box of vegetables, but other products are now being included.

This shared partnership helps cover the annual operating budget for a producer and ensures they'll be able to sell their products to waiting buyers. In addition to sharing the crops, however, shareholders also must bear the burden of any risks, such as damage caused by hailstorms, drought or flooding.

CSA memberships are particularly useful for families of four or more, but singles might find they receive more food than they can eat. If you're single and would like to join a CSA, you might consider sharing a membership with others.

Here are eight reasons you should get involved in Community Supported Agriculture.

1. Benefits to Buyers
CSA's provide access to the ultimate locavore food. It's always fresh, often organically or healthily grown, and tastes better than any box of strawberries you'll find in your supermarket.

2. Benefits to Sellers
Sharing the risks means producers can focus more on creating their products and less on trying to market their wares. Shares are sold early in the season and many people just renew them each year.

3. Revolting Against Revolting Produce
The square tomatoes now sold in supermarkets have little juice, a lot of pulp and almost no flavor. Yet the prices remain sky high. These manipulated tomatoes (and other modified produce) are easier to ship and last longer after being picked. Perhaps that's why tens of thousands have joined CSAs across the country.

4. More Choices
Some CSAs allow shareholders to select the products they desire, rather than everyone receiving the same package. Known as "market-style" CSAs, this format can be more difficult for the producer to manage, but means members will end up with fewer bundles of kale and more cucumbers, if that's what they want.

5. Not Just Corn
In addition to produce, CSAs are beginning to offer shares in dairy products, fish, breads and other baked items, and even flowers. Can it be long before CSAs will deliver a fully prepared meal to your door?

6. Spreading the Risk Around
An entire community suffers when a farm goes belly up, so it makes sense to spread the risk around. In this way, CSAs also provide a strong connection between consumers and the land, a big plus in educating the public as to the source of their food.

7. Maintaining a Way of Life
As of 2009, there were roughly 2-million U.S. farms and about 70 percent were small and family owned. Yet the average age of most farmers is heading upwards of 50. As these produceres retire or pass on, fewer offspring are opting to keep working the property and are selling off to urban developers. CSAs help maintain a way of life that's intrinsically American.

8. There's a CSA Near You
LocalHarvest.com provides a CSA database to help find a program near you. The database also includes farmers' markets and CSA member restaurants, co-ops and grocery stores.