Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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motivations. Near Minneapolis, eight CSAs were studied via observation,
interviews, harvest survey, focus groups, and a survey (Cone and Myhre
2000). These CSA farms averaged 6-10 acres of vegetables and varied from
30 to over 300 members, operated by farmers who were college-educated
married couples, with little previous farm management experience. Key
goals as noted by these farmers were sustainable production and nurturing
the environment and community. The consumer members were mostly
educated, affluent urbanites who said that their reasons for participating in
the CSA were environmental concerns and the ability to get organic food that
is fresh and local. The researchers wisely interviewed the CSA “dropouts” as
well, who noted that they quit because of the inconvenience and lack of
variety in the weekly produce baskets. Overall, members with higher par-
ticipation in the CSA, as seen in attending events and visiting the farm, were
more likely to be motivated by land stewardship, supporting a local farmer,
and belonging to a community. Yet we must question how people interpret
and define a community. These authors note that CSAs are a “growing social
movement that endeavors tomake direct connections”between farmers and
consumers (Cone and Myhre 2000, 187). But only half of the members they
studied actually participated beyond buying and eating their shares.
One university researcher obtained grant money and began a CSA with
the hope of building a community (DeLind 1998). The reality turned out
quite different from her group's initial community “missionary zeal” (5).
The farm grew too quickly and was soon driven by an economic mind-
set rather than a community mind-set. For example, members would take
given amounts of produce even if it was too much for them, just to “get
their money's worth.” So the CSA became just another market rather than
a true alternative to a market economy. Most notable was the majority of
members' lack of sharing in the work or even being appreciative of the hard
work of the few. She notes that members coming to pick up their produce
would stand in the garden chatting without ever bending over to pick a
weed. In some way, maybe this is “community” for them; everybody has
different expectations.
Should CSAs have the deeper responsibility to change the social relations
within agriculture, as postulated by many researchers? To put the colossal
task of social change on the overworked backs of CSA farmers seems an
unfair burden. CSAs could be just an advantageous way to direct market
organic produce, a means of selling and buying that benefits the farmer
(with higher profit margin) and consumers (with fresh local food) by taking
out the middleman. And CSAs could also be an initial way to educate busy
urbanites about rural issues and organic farming.
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