What is a Community Supported Agriculture(CSA)?

Community Supported Agriculture is a way for consumers to buy produce directly from farmers. Payment is made up front which helps cover production costs of the farm and guarantees a degree of financial support  that can help enable small farms to remain in business. The CSA movement originated in Japan in the 1960’s to address concerns about the environmental impact and the quality of the food produced by industrial agriculture. The name for this movement, Teikei (“cooperation” in Japanese), is philosophically translated to “food with the farmer’s face on it”. CSAs provide the opportunity for consumers to have a relationship with farmers, know where their food is grown and gain direct knowledge about the farming practices.  By buying food locally and directly consumers support a family, their farm and the community. Food produced locally is also fresher and tastier than produce grown using industrial methods which often pick produce weeks before peak ripeness and rely on varieties selected for hardiness not flavor.

The CSA Project at JHSPH

The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) initiated the first CSA project at Johns Hopkins University this year and is working with One Straw Farm, a County organic farm, to coordinate a CSA weekly drop-off site at JHSPH. One Straw Farm has been operating as a certified organic farm for 22 years and has run a CSA for 6 years. Members join by purchasing a share that entitles them to receive eight different produce items every week (enough for a family of four) delivered to JHSPH - June 5 through November 13, 2007. Half shares can also be purchased. The produce items vary according to what is in season and include cucumbers, tomatoes, corn and various flowers and herbs.  

For the 2007 growing season, CLF coordinated distribution of 28 full shares at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, four of which will be donated to a local community organization in support of food security activities. To date, 39 people have signed up to purchase full or half shares. Membership through JHSPH has closed for the season; however, One Straw Farm offers several other drop-off points throughout the Greater Baltimore area. CLF hopes to see this project grow and add more drop off sites throughout East Baltimore next year. If you are interested in becoming a One Straw Farm CSA member and / or establishing a drop- off site near you please contact the CLF at clf@jhsph.edu or One Straw Farm.

Watch a short video about a North Carolina CSA