Become a CSA Farmer

Are You a Farmer Looking to Diversify?

Money, Members, and Management

A farmer or grower, often with the assistance of a core group, draws up a budget reflecting the production costs for the year. This includes all salaries, distribution costs, investments for seeds and tools, land payments, taxes, machinery maintenance, etc. The budget is then divided by the number of people the farm will provide for and this determines the cost of each share of the harvest. One share is usually designed to provide the weekly vegetable needs for a family of four. Share prices reflect many variables and average between $300 and $600. Flowers, fruit, meat, honey, eggs and dairy products are also available through some CSA.

Community members sign up and purchase their shares, either in a lump sum before the seeds are sown in early spring, or in several installments through-out the growing season. Production expenses are thereby guaranteed and the farmer or grower starts receiving income as soon as work begins.

In return for their investment, CSA members receive a bag of fresh, locally-grown, typically organic produce once a week from late spring through early fall, and occasionally throughout the winter in northern climates and year-round in milder zones. Members prefer a wide variety of vegetables and herbs, which encourages integrated cropping and companion planting. These practices help reduce risk factors and give multiple benefits to the soil. Crops are planted in succession in order to provide a continuous weekly supply of mixed vegetables. As crops rotate throughout the season, weekly shares vary by size and types of produce, reflecting local growing seasons and conditions.

CSA vary considerably as they are based on farm or garden location, agricultural practices, and specific farm and community goals and needs. Memberships are known to include a variety of community members including low-income families, homeless people, senior citizens, and differently-abled individuals. If provided, an extra fee typically is charged for home delivery. Most CSA invite members to visit the farm and welcome volunteer assistance. Working shares are an option in some cases, whereby a member commits to working two to four hours a week to help the farm in exchange for a discount on membership cost.

Apprenticeships are growing in popularity on many CSA. For some farms they are an integral component of a successful operation. Apprenticeships offer valuable hands-on education and train America's future farmers.

Property arrangements tend to be quite flexible. In addition to private ownership, some CSA lease land with fees factored in as a regular budget item, and some are part of land trusts which support a local farm.

CSA strive for a truly sustainable operation, both economically and environmentally. Many expand over time to provide additional food items such as honey, fruit, meats, eggs, etc., and form networks with other farms to provide a greater range of products.

Some CSA provide produce for local restaurants, roadside stands or farmers' markets while developing farm membership, or in many cases, in addition to it.

Source: The University of Massachusetts Extension

More Resources for Farmers and Growers in Utah

• CSA Management Software to help manage your customers, deliveries and profitability: 
  • CSAware from Local Harvest: http://www.csaware.com/
  • Farmigo: http://www.farmigo.com/index.html
  • CSA Tool Box: http://www.csatoolbox.com/index.php
  • Small Farm Central: http://www.smallfarmcentral.com/
• Collapsable Plastic Crates for Farmers
  Jeremy East of East Farms found collapsable plastic crates that are about one bushel volume for four dollars each. They have about one thousand available. They are heavy duty and were designed for produce. "I priced them new and they wanted nine dollars each for a whole semi load. If you wouldn't mind passing that on I think that they would be great. We are going to start using them to ship in." This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
• Farmer to Farmer Network
  The University of Wisconsin offers information about farmer to farmer networks & their effective grassroots sharing opportunities.
• USDA AG Library
  Learn about organizations and websites related to CSAs.
• Operating a CSA
  Read about a success story researched and published through the University of Wisconsin. Also information from Michigan about CSA planning and a training manual at http://www.csafarms.org/default.asp
• CSA Reference List
  Click here for an extensive list of resources for operating a CSA farm.
• USU Extension Provides Answers for the Small Farmers How-To's
  When it comes to improving your land and making it productive, the experts at Utah State University Extension are ready to serve and provide researched, time-tested solutions to anyone from the seasoned production farmer to the small-scale producer to the just-moved-out-to-the-countryside landowner. Learn more.