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Community Corner

Fresh and Local Produce Through CSAs

Here are five reasons why you should join a Community Supported Agriculture.

Community supported agriculture (CSAs) is a popular phenomenon whereby consumers purchase shares in a farmer’s harvest—enjoying the freshest, local food around. The thought of eating fresh vegetables without chemicals and pesticides is the most appealing motivation for many people who choose to join a CSA. But recent studies have uncovered wider benefits to this practice. Read on.

How Do CSAs Work?

Joining a CSA is an easy way to get fresh, local produce. A person or a family agrees at the beginning of the farm season to purchase a ‘share’ of the farmer’s harvest and for each week during the growing season, the consumer receives a box of fresh vegetables. Aside from enjoying the tasty benefits of the farmer’s labor, supporting local farmers sustains their efforts, keeps them in the area where they continue to produce food for us. It builds community.

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Five Reasons to Join a CSA

#1: The most obvious reason is that fresh, pesticide-free vegetables can be on your table each and every week throughout the growing season. It will feel like having your own private farm without all the weeding and bug-picking (that’s what some organic farmers I know do...it’s a labor of love, really).

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#2: You know where your vegetables have been, or how far they’ve come before landing in your grocery bag. You can’t say that for most of the vegetables that are sold in big-box retail stores. Oh yeah, they might advertise that the lettuce is from a country a thousand miles away, but can you call the farmer and ask him if he uses pesticides? I don’t think so. What is the true cost in terms of its carbon footprint (cost of fuel to ship it here), and how detrimental is that to our environment?

#3: You will find that the food from your local farmer is raised naturally and organically—most of the time. You, however, have the opportunity to speak with the local farmers to discuss his practices. Most are more than happy to share with you their love of natural and sustainable farm practices. As a locavore, you will benefit from food grown from soil that has a diverse past. Large agribusinesses grow one crop year after year. These are called monocultures, and this model of farming has one serious ramification, among many others, that should concern the everyday consumer. When one crop is farmed in the same space year after year, it weakens the resistance of each subsequent generation; it makes it more susceptible to pests and therefore more pesticides are used to maintain the crop. Remember Ireland and the Great Potato Famine? Basically, it’s the same idea. Bottom line, biodiversity in farm practices is a good thing. Supporting local farmers with your subscription to a CSA lends your support to natural, eco-friendly farm practices. It’s a win-win.

#4: Buying from local farmers keeps dollars in our community. While I’ve never been a believer in any of the “trickle-down” economic theories, I do believe in what I’ll call the “ripple effect” of locally generated dollars. I’m not an economist, but I want my local farmers to do well and thrive economically because I have a vested interest in their success—my health through good food. I think we can all agree to that.

#5: Purchasing a share of the farm harvest might just introduce you to some new vegetables, get you out of a veggie rut and expand your horizons. How exciting it could be to test drive something new, try a new recipe, discover something you absolutely love.

Local Impact is Huge

According to a study conducted by the University of Georgia’s College of Agriculture, the impact of eating local produce is economically monumental. If just 3.7 million households in the state purchased $10 per week in local produce, $1.9 billion would flow back into Georgia’s economy. This also translates into a statewide increase in jobs and over $8.1 million in income for labor with over $14 million in sales. Considering the impact of this states’ high unemployment figures, increased poverty and food insecurity felt by many families, just one small change in our consumer behavior can make a huge difference in creating a healthier economy for all Georgians.

Link Between Biodiversity and Environmental Impact

Modern agribusiness farm practices rely on intensified food production methods and capital-intensive technologies that utilize monocultural farming. The ever-increasing reliance on this method of farming has resulted in increased use of pesticides and petroleum-based fertilizers. Our food is only as healthy as the soil and these methods have been directly linked to several “ecological diseases” of farming, namely erosion, loss of soil fertility, depletion of soil nutrients, salination of the soil, loss of plant species, loss of natural enemies and genetic resistance to pesticides which prompt the creation of even more toxic pesticides. On the other hand, diversified farm practices that include integrated pest management, crop rotation, no-till methods, use of alternative cropping systems—that is to say what local farmers know and do to keep their soil fertile, is what contributes to a healthier eco-system. This, not the monoculture method, is what must happen if we are to thrive on the food that we eat and expect to be healthy. One small change in consumer behavior—supporting a local farmer can make a big difference in our local community as well as our state. While many states are encouraging local food movements, studies show that Georgians eat less local food than the national average, have higher obesity rates and more chronic illnesses and thus could benefit greatly from making a commitment to supporting its own through CSAs. 

Look to These Resources For CSA Subscriptions

Now is the time to sign up for a subscription with a local farm. At the beginning of the season, farmers and consumers agree upon the size and length of the subscription. When the farmer reaches output capacity, he/she can no longer sell a subscription. So don’t be left out. Contact a farmer near your home or work for the best vegetables ever—local, fresh and healthier by miles.

www.woodstock.locallygrown.net

www.georgiaorganics.org

www.localharvest.org

www.greenpeople.org

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