Community Supported Agriculture
You’ve heard of it but you might not be totally clear on what it really means, right?
It means you become a member of our community by committing to purchase, upfront, a weekly box of seasonal Oak Spring produce.
But when I google ‘What does CSA stand for?’ there are many options.
from FoodRevolution.org
CSA stands for “community-supported agriculture.” It’s a model of farming, distribution, and marketing that began in Japan in the 1960s. The women who pioneered the model were looking for alternatives to the pesticide-heavy, industrial-scale agriculture that had replaced small, local farms and farming families. Swiss farmers and consumers created proto-CSAs in the 1970s, inspired by similar developments in Chile and France. The first CSAs in the Americas started in New England in the mid-1980s.
At its core, a CSA is a way for consumers to buy local, seasonally fresh food directly from a farmer.
Of course, people have been getting produce from local farmers for as long as there have been farms.
The main innovation of the CSA is the way it distributes risk and reward among the entire community, including the farmer.
Here’s how it generally works.
A farm offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a “membership” or a “subscription”), often well before the growing season.
In return, members receive a CSA box (or bag) of seasonal produce each week throughout that particular farming season.
Some CSAs offer different box sizes to accommodate varying family sizes or individual needs. While the box contains the harvest produce from that week, some CSA boxes also include the option to add other artisanal foods and products from local farms.
The customer then picks up their box at a given time and place, either directly from the farm or at community locations.
And some CSAs deliver straight to the customer’s door.
Oak Spring Farm partners with Harvie to customize CSA weekly shares based on your preferences. By rating the different vegetables available this season with a ranking of 0-5, Harvie’s software platform will customize your weekly vegetable boxes based on your preferences. Customization means you will eat more healthy and local food; because you are getting more of what you like. You’ll waste less food, while directly supporting organic farming.
CUSTOMIZED BOXES
Customized boxes based on what YOU want! Not a fan of beets? Want to eat all the carrots? Customized boxes will allow you to select preferences at sign-up and then customize each week based on our harvest. This will help you actually use everything in the box because you’ll love everything you are getting!
“I liked the idea of being able to see and edit the contents of my basket before pick-up day. Customization reduces waste and makes menu planning more efficient.” -HARVIE MEMBER
REDUCE FOOD WASTE
Food waste is the #1 reason folks don’t return to a CSA and we want to fix that! Because you are getting what you want, you’ll see less food getting tossed or composted which is going to ensure you are getting the biggest bang for your buck.
“I adore farm-fresh food; however sometimes with a “regular” share you get piles and piles of something you just can’t stand. Harvie lets me tweak my share so food doesn’t go to waste.” -HARVIE MEMBER
Order “Extra” Items
Want to order “extra” items from the farm? With just a few clicks of a button we’ll put those items in your box which means less trips to the grocery store and more time in your day!
Weekly Payment Plans
Tired of remembering to make payments or can’t pay in full? Choose the payment plan at check out and your card will be charged automatically each time your share is delivered. Keepin’ it simple and easy for you!
Vacation Holds
Vacation planned? Need to change your drop site? No problem. You can easily reschedule your box or change pick-pick up locations to accommodate your busy life, so no more missing out on those veggies you paid for.
Recipe Suggestions
Fridge full of food but nothing for dinner? We’ve got you covered. Harvie is working hard to provide you with recipe suggestions, cooking tips, storage, and food prep resources so you won’t be scrambling to get dinner on the table.
Outstanding Customer Support
Have questions? We have solutions! Harvie is providing you with customer service folks who are on standby to help you with any questions you have.
Please feel free to reach out to Lisa to schedule a 15-minute CSA discovery phone. Email her here lisa@oakspring-farm.com
