We have had a very successful summer with our 3 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs in New York City. 

The Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model is a different way to get your vegetables.  Members buy a “share” of what the farmers produces, and picks up their portion weekly at a central location.  The season lasts about 22 weeks and members get an assortment of in season, organic vegetables that were usually picked that day. 

CSA is beneficial not just for the individual, but for the community, farmer, and our food system. CSAs increase the accessibility of fresh, local vegetables to a community, while helping small scale family farms stay in business by sharing the financial risk Historically, Community Supported Agriculture requires that members pay the whole amount of the share up front -- because the farmers need investment early in the season! The side effect of this system, however, is that CSA has only been available to high earners who could afford to make a large initial investment. That’s why three years ago, Just Food, NYC Coalition Against Hunger, United Way, and Hunger Action Network teamed up to create a 3 CSA’s that focus on increasing access to fresh vegetables in low income communities. 

We now have CSAs in West Harlem, Long Island City (Queens) and our newest addition, Flatbush (Brooklyn).

We are already halfway through this season and so far it has been a great success.  Between the three programs, we have almost 350 members!  Of these members, over 40 percent have low incomes, and many use food stamps and payment plans. 

We recently conducted a survey of our Flatbush CSA members.  Over 80% indicated that because of their CSA membership, they would continue to consume more vegetables throughout the whole year.  Most members said that being part of a mixed income CSA was very important to them.  One member noted:

Thank you so much for having a sliding-scale membership and for accepting food stamps! I wouldn't have been able to join a CSA otherwise. Being a member has improved my eating habits, inspired a new appreciation of cooking, and renewed my interest in a food industry/hospitality career!

Overall, members in all three CSAs indicated through surveys that they have been very satisfied with the produce and the CSA as a whole.   

We are working to help the members of the CSA take over control of the programs.  This in many ways is the most important part of the project.  We want our CSAs to eventually be community run and supported, so they will be totally sustainable and continue to address the needs of the community.  For more information please contact Veda 212-741-8192 ex. 2#