BACS is currently researching the details and funding required for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project. 

What is CSA?

Community Supported Agriculture is a direct-market system in which members buy vegetables directly from local farmers.  In a typical CSA, members each buy a share of the harvest at the beginning of the season and receive an assortment of fresh, nutritious vegetables each week from late May/early June until mid-October. 

For families and individuals, we are working to establish a CSA in central Brooklyn with a payment strategy that will make local, organic produce accessible to everyone.  Examples of typical strategies include creating a sliding scale share price based on income, providing discounted shares in return for volunteer hours, and/or accepting EBT payment. 

What is a modified CSA?

Whereas the members of a typical CSA are either individuals or families/households who buy shares of vegetables, a modified CSA would include institutional sized shares which would be purchased by Emergency Food Programs (EFPs).  This food would then be distributed for free to soup kitchen or food pantry customers.  In addition, a modified CSA would allow different options for low-income members, including reduced price or subsidized shares and the ability to use Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT).

Why this project makes sense for EFPs

When it comes to providing healthy foods to low-income people, Emergency Food Programs face perennial and systematic difficulties.  The majority of food distributed by EFPs comes through federally and state funded commodity buying programs, wholesale purchasing, or donations by large food suppliers.  Much of the food is the product of large-scale industrial agriculture and thus the food is generally highly processed.  In addition, it is always cheaper to purchase processed foods, a tempting proposition to EFPs who are facing increasingly longer lines and trying to feed more people than ever.   

Health Issues   

Due to a lack of fresh, affordable food, our customers (and neighborhoods overall) are at risk for numerous nutrition-related health problems, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and hypertension.  To give them foods high in sugar, corn syrup, salt, and artificial additives will only serve to exacerbate these problems.  By providing fresh, healthy foods, we can promote good eating and nutritional empowerment.

Agricultural, Economic, and Environmental Justice

CSA represents a rethinking of our entire food system.  Supporting local farmers in this way, we are able to take part in a movement that values local and fair economies.  CSA farmers typically make great efforts to farm in a sustainable way, minimizing the use of fossil fuels, harmful fertilizers, and pesticides.  This system also allows people to create a relationship with their farmer, strengthening the connection between ourselves and those who produce our food.  Many CSAs offer numerous educational opportunities for members, including farm visits.

For more information on CSA in general, or to find a CSA near you, visit Just Food or Local Harvest.