CSA Model Basics
Community Supported Agriculture connects consumers directly with farms through advance-purchase share subscriptions. Members pay upfront for weekly produce boxes throughout the growing season, sharing both abundance and crop failures with farmers.
Planning Share Contents
Crop selection balances member preferences with agronomic considerations. Survey potential members about likes and dislikes. Include familiar vegetables plus interesting varieties that expand culinary horizons gradually.
Calculate production needs based on member numbers and share sizes. Add 20-30% buffer for crop failures, pest damage, and quality culls. Plan succession plantings to provide consistent weekly shares.
Pricing and Share Structure
Calculate production costs including labor, materials, land, equipment, and overhead. Add profit margin for reinvestment and reasonable compensation. Compare with retail value of equivalent produce to demonstrate member savings.
Offer multiple share sizes (individual, family) and optional add-ons (fruit, flowers, eggs, meat). Payment plans accommodate various financial situations - full payment upfront, monthly installments, or work-trade arrangements.
Member Communication
Weekly newsletters share farm happenings, recipe ideas, storage tips, and crop updates. Transparency about successes and challenges builds connection and realistic expectations about agricultural realities.
Farm events like potlucks, u-pick days, and harvest festivals strengthen community. Members with farm experience feel invested in your success and become advocates for your operation.
Logistics Management
Efficient packing and distribution systems save labor and maintain quality. Harvest to share size, pack consistently, and streamline pickup or delivery processes.
Pickup site selection balances member convenience with farm logistics. On-farm pickup reduces delivery costs but limits member base to those able to travel. Satellite sites expand reach but increase labor and coordination complexity.