CSA

CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, is a unique sales model that better connects customers to the source of their food, while providing local farmers the year-round economic support they need to succeed. Below you’ll find resources for farmers operating or considering their own CSA program.

WHAT IS CSA?

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a way to buy local food directly from a farmer. You purchase a “share” and become a farm “member.” The farm delivers a box of seasonal goods regularly throughout the season. However, CSA is much more than just a weekly delivery of food. CSA is a powerful investment in your health, community, and local economy. It’s a partnership between farms and consumers that keeps independent businesses thriving, helps families eat seasonal, local produce, and charges farmers and consumers with the responsibility of building a strong, equitable food system. Learn more about CSA here.

Check out Local Harvest for a directory of CSA farms

OUR WORK SUPPORTING CSA

California

We provide direct support to CSA farms all across California through direct technical assistance, policy advocacy, research and by sharing valuable resources (like those below) to help you get your CSA program started or to help keep it going strong. 

National

We are a key partner in a National CSA Community of Practice, collaborating with FairShare, the University of Kentucky and other CSA support organizations around the U.S. to strengthen our collective resources, programs, and trainings.

Global

We serve as a North American delegation member of Urgenci, an international network of Community Supported Agriculture initiatives fostering peer-based solidarity among CSA actors contributing to the food sovereignty movement worldwide. 

CSA & ONLINE SALES
RESOURCES FOR FARMERS

CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, is a unique sales model that better connects customers to the source of their food, while providing local farmers the year-round economic support they need to succeed. Below you’ll find resources for farmers operating or considering their own CSA program.

General Resources:

2021 CSA Marketing Resources

The CSA Innovation Network has created a  CSA renewals marketing package for 2021. Download your package below with themed assets for social media and print, including: Facebook cover photo Facebook

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The CSA Solutions Hub

The CSA Solutions Hub is everything we know about CSA farming. We want to share with you, so you can get better at what you do. Join our community of

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How to Bring EBT / SNAP to your CSA

Interested in bringing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) known as CalFresh in California, to your CSA? EBT is currently available at 600 authorized Farmer’s

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CSA Marketing Tips:

My Digital Farmer

An online resource for CSA farmers by a CSA farmer, this website (videos, podcasts, etc.) is invaluable, offering marketing strategies that help CSAs clarify their message, find new customers, and

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Selling Online: Tips & Resources

Take Your Local Food Online (Webinar)

Take Your Local Food Online provided practical information and tips from farmers using online sales platforms. Platforms covered in this video include: Woo Commerce — Kat Becker, Cattail Farms Graze

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Direct Sales Software Platforms

This publication highlights product options and sales models that farmers may find helpful. While markets, restaurants, and other food distribution channels close or reduce operations to prevent the spread of

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CSA & Other Direct Sales Software:

RoadWarrior

Navigation software to make deliveries more efficient, taking into account traffic, drop-off priorities, school zones, tolls, one way trips, and more.

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Kabbage

Through Kabbage Payments, any business can sign up to sell gift certificates online, and anyone can purchase them to support participating small businesses. Once registered, businesses can send a custom

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FRESHr

A Marketplace for Farms, Distributors, and their Customers online that aggregates and updates supply and demand for fresh local produce in real-time. Created for farmers, distributors, restaurants, and grocers advancing the

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Credibles

Credibles goes beyond mainstream crowdfunding. It’s ongoing support of local business and a stronger relationship between the business and customers. The upfront payments are paid back in-kind – as edible

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Research:

Understanding CSA Members

Survey data: Who supports Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in California? Comparisons of current and former CSA members, including members’ backgrounds, relationships to food, membership experiences, reasons for joining, importance of

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Findings from CA CSA farmer survey

Check out the findings from a survey of over 100 CSA farmers throughout California, including type of production, business models, demographics, retention rates, labor, finances and more.

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Michelle Wyler
Managing Director, Farm to Market

Michelle manages Regional Food System projects and staff in the Redwood Coast and North Coast regions, as well as CAFF’s statewide CSA Network. Captivated by the farming culture at an early age, she has had her hands in the soil or been involved in rural food systems development for the past twenty years. She operates her own small farm, is an avid bicyclist, and food aficionado.

michelle[at]caff.org

 

Michelle Wyler
Managing Director, Farm to Market

Michelle manages Regional Food System projects and staff in the Redwood Coast and North Coast regions, as well as CAFF’s statewide CSA Network. Captivated by the farming culture at an early age, she has had her hands in the soil or been involved in rural food systems development for the past twenty years. She operates her own small farm, is an avid bicyclist, and food aficionado.

michelle[at]caff.org