Community supported agriculture... the story so far Kirstin Glendinning

CSA is... “... any food, fuel or fibre-producing initiative where the community shares the risks and rewards of production whether through ownership, investment, sharing the costs of production, or provision of labour.”

CSA is based on a relationship of mutual support. Farmer-run CSAs Buying groups Community Owned Farms Low level of commitment (Light Green) High level of commitment (Dark Green) Scale of commitment

Commitment Risk-sharing Shared ethics Access to land - education So, CSA… Not a prescribed model Offers greater accountability to the consumer Provides secure and fairer return for the producer Encourages sustainable forms of agriculture A tool for transition Key characteristics

CSA: Provides fresh healthy produce from a known source Provides producers with a stable market and a fairer return for their produce Keeps money in the local economy Reduces ‘food miles’ and promotes sustainable agriculture Creates new social networks, a sense of community and trust Benefits of CSA

Where it all started... From a biodynamic farm in Switzerland - Topinambur, in the early 1980's.....to a global network of farms on every continent, today

The USA First CSA farms emerged in late 1980s Now 13,000 CSA farms Mainly vegetables Farmer-led model – private enterprises, subscriber members Regional CSA organisations – advise on consumer mobilisation Strong political representation

Japan Emerged in 1970s, forerunner of organic movement Consumer response to industrialisation of food production Popularised as result of numerous food scares in 1980s Now ‘Teikei’s’ Mainly vegetables Consumer-led model – urban hubs sourcing from farming co-ops Seasonal farm visits

Germany Solidarity! Whole-farm CSA's 'Give what you can, take what you need' Mainly biodynamic Most in the north

France AMAP – Association pour le Maintien de l’Agriculture Paysanne now AMAP = the consumer group

Italy Ethical purchasing groups First vegetables......then dried foods, Solar panels, Insurance, clothes...

Belgium Pick your own!

CSAs in the UK 45 trading CSA’s 100+ in development Vegetables in south-west, meat in north Also bread, honey, cheese and milk Average of 69 members per CSA Average age just 3 years

CSAs in the UK

Varying models Producer-led24% - producer offers share of production (grower’s box scheme) Producer-community partnership23% - community enterprise works with one or more producers Community-led53% - community owned and run-enterprise (32% of CSA’s run solely by volunteers)

What do they produce? Vegetables 73% Fruit 35% Meat 22% Other 22% - honey, cheese, bread (29% of farms trade bought-in produce) (58% have annual income under £32,000) (17% have income over £160,000)

Swillington CSA Since March members No work obligation Fri/Sat collection – pack own veg Monthly socials Annual/quarterly/ monthly payment options

The Fowl Co-op and Pig Club Member-led CSA – committed market for local organic farm 6 month sign-ups £60 = 6 chickens Chickens delivered to urban farmers’ market 1 farm tour/year

Swillington Sheep CSA Members provide loans of £ month repayment, 4% interest in lamb meat Supporting 2 new farmers Sheep are property of the farmers

Stroud Community Agriculture 50 acres - biodynamic 2 full-time farmers on £20k/yr Paid administrator & membership officer 200 shares (veg & meat) £35/month + £2/yr membership IPS – one member, one vote Citrus fruit & olive oil from Spanish sister farm Regular volunteer days & social events

Loxley Valley Community Farm - Sheffield 5 acres 25 members Pig, turkey, egg, chicken & vegetable shares All work done by members Company limited by guarantee: member = director

Community Supported Bees - Bungay 25 members £20 per year Visits to hives Hive in members’ gardens Invitation to honey harvest and bee party in autumn Regular updates and photos Wax and honey share

Peer support – fledging UK CSA network & charter But many barriers Weather Recession And competition Box schemes Farm shops Supermarkets... The future?

Further info UK: Soil Association website - CSA pages – UK CSA Network International: Urgenci international network of CSA's: – “fostering peer-based solidarity among Community-Supported Agriculture initiatives worldwide to actively contribute to the food sovereignty movement”