Tips for Starting a CSA

1. Talk to other CSA farmers; they’re the most helpful source of information for setting up a CSA farm. Experience farming first (e.g., by apprenticing on a CSA farm or by market gardening) to see if it suits your needs and abilities. If you have little growing experience, don’t start with a CSA right away.

2. Start with a small group to experiment for the first year to find a manageable cropping plan. "Realize the difference between farming and gardening; make sure you can do a 30- to 40-crop polyculture before you sign up 100 shares." Also important are capital ("You can’t expect to make money from the start"), another source of income and long-term access to land.

3. Be prepared to work very hard. The first year is the hardest, but it gets easier with time, as members spread the word to potential customers about the CSA and thus do your recruiting for you. In this sample, most of the workload in the CSA is carried by the farmers and the families. When members contribute, they help with distribution, harvesting and outreach. Although having members experience the farm firsthand is part of the idea behind CSA, many of the farmers find that this requires a lot of their energy to organize.

4. Try to set up a core group. Half of the CSAs had managed to set up a core group of members that they can consult regularly, especially for help in times of heavy workload and outreach to members. For example, two members on one CSA took over all of the tasks involved in providing a newsletter to members; another set up a committee to manage the garden’s irrigation system. As a variation on a core group, another CSA (which works on a pay-as-you-order basis) has set up a rotating committee of members coordinating orders and drop-off outlets. "Independently they need to figure out order details and do the marketing for the farm themselves."

5. Research consumers based in the area. One of the biggest problems was the distance to members. It is difficult to build a strong membership base from the local communities. When members are scattered in different locations, a lot of time and finances shift toward transportation. And if members are far away, getting them to become involved in the farm is even more difficult. One five-year CSA operator believes that communities with a high proportion of 15- to 35-year-olds with children are the best targets.

6. Depend on many marketing outlets. Most CSAers depend on various strategies to sell their produce. "Always grow a cushion of excess veggies, with some backup form of marketing the excess," said one six-year CSA veteran.

7. Try to carry on through the winter. In Canada, the CSA session is very short--four months average in this sample. Few offer produce through the winter as part of their CSA; others keep selling to members on a separate pay-as-you-order basis. Most concentrate on fresh vegetables and herbs, with fewer than half offering fruits/berries and storage crops. Very few offer other products, such as flowers, value-added foods (e.g., pesto, jams, maple syrup, etc.), chicken or eggs within their CSA operation.

8. Cooperate with other farmers. Many mentioned the difficulty of providing a wide diversity within such a short time. Sharing the risks with consumer members includes the risk of failed crops. Half of the responding CSAs keep to this principle, communicating difficulties to members. However, many are not comfortable with the concept and buy from or exchange with other farmers to supplement losses.

Source: "Thinking of Starting a CSA? Here Are Some Tips," from Cornell Extension, reprinted in Weekly Market Bulletin, N.H. Dept. of Ag., April 23, 2003.