"CSAs started in California as a way to promote Golden State-grown food, and as an additional direct marketing tool complementing farmers markets. The idea of CSAs goes back even further to 1960s Alabama: at Tuskegee University, a 1890 Land Grant University, a professor named Booker T. Whately started a farm box program to support struggling Black farmers. Today, receiving a mostly organic box of fruits and vegetables delivered to your doorstep starting at about $35 seems like a steal."
"It is a win for farmers, too, because participants take on a part of the cost of production by paying upfront, in some cases, for a season's share of produce. The CSAs then use some of that upfront money to help with cover equipment, seeds, soil, labor, fees, and other costs. Potential savings for customers aside, the thing about CSAs is someone else is deciding what you're going to eat and that can be a fun surprise."
"One week, I got tiny cucumbers that looked like watermelons from Acta Non Verba's CSA. Another week this summer, I received a bag of tomatillos in a Mandela Partners' CSA box and made salsa verde for the first time. You start to plan your menu around what's in season and start cooking lots of different things. You get to enjoy the fresh taste of local farm bounties."
Rising grocery prices, California's high living costs, water shortages, and stricter immigration enforcement have contributed to higher produce costs. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) offers regular deliveries of fresh, often mostly organic, locally grown fruits and vegetables, commonly starting around $35 per box. CSAs began in California as a direct-marketing approach and trace earlier roots to a 1960s farm box program at Tuskegee University. Members pay upfront for shares, which helps cover production costs such as equipment, seeds, soil, labor, and fees. CSA participation encourages seasonal meal planning, culinary experimentation, reduced food miles, and opportunities to connect with local farmers.
Read at www.berkeleyside.org
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