Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
direct links to consumers rather than indirect links through middlemen (wholesalers, brokers,
processors, etc.).
Table 6.1. Six Characteristics of Civic Agriculture
(1) Farming is oriented toward local markets that serve local consumers rather than national or international
mass markets.
(2) Agriculture is seen as an integral part of rural communities, not merely as production of commodities.
(3) Farmers are concerned more with high quality and value-added products and less with quantity (yield)
and least-cost production practices.
(4) Production at the farm level is often more labor-intensive and land-intensive and less capital-intensive
and land-extensive. Farm enterprises tend to be considerably smaller in scale and scope than industrial
producers.
(5) Producers more often rely on local, site-specific knowledge and less on a uniform set of “best manage-
ment practices.”
(6) Producers forge direct market links to consumers rather than indirect links through middlemen (whole-
salers, brokers, processors, etc.).
Farmers engaged in civic agriculture are concerned more with high-quality and value-ad-
ded products and less with quantity (yield) and least-cost production practices. Civic farmers
cater to local tastes and meet the demand for varieties and products that are often unique to a
particular region or locality.
Civic agriculture at the farm level is often more labor-intensive and land-intensive and less
capital-intensive. Civic farm enterprises tend to be considerably smaller in scale and scope
than those of industrial producers. Civic farming is a craft enterprise as opposed to an indus-
trial enterprise. As such, it harks back to the way in which farming was organized in the early
part of the twentieth century. Civic agriculture takes up social, economic, and geographic
spaces not filled (or passed over) by industrial agriculture.
Civic agriculture often relies on indigenous, site-specific knowledge and less on a uniform
set of “best management practices.” The industrial model of farming is characterized by ho-
mogenization and standardization of production techniques. The embedding of civic agricul-
ture in the community and a concern with environmental conditions fosters a problem-solv-
ing perspective that is site-specific and not amenable to a “one size fits all” mentality. 2
Civic agriculture enterprises are visible in many forms on the local landscape. Farmers'
markets provide immediate, low-cost, direct contact between local farmers and consumers
and are an effective economic development strategy for communities seeking to establish
stronger local food systems. Community and school gardens provide fresh produce to un-
derserved populations, teach food production skills to people of all ages, and contribute to
agricultural literacy. Small-scale farmers, especially organic producers, across the country
have pioneered the development of local marketing systems and formed “production net-
works” that are akin to manufacturing industrial districts. Community-supported agriculture
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