With Margaret Milligan, program associate, Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska

Think of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) as a farm subscription program. Traditionally, consumers purchase “shares” of the farm in the late winter and early spring, then their investment is returned to them throughout the season in the form of a weekly “share” of farm products – usually a box or bag packed with seasonal vegetables, fruits, herbs, eggs and value-added products.

This arrangement allows farms to secure cash in the traditionally lean times of late winter and early spring and means more overall stability in their business plan. CSA retention rates are generally quite high, meaning people tend to support the farm year after year. As restaurant sales vanished during the pandemic, and farmers’ market sales decreased following the overall trend of lower attendance, CSAs attracted more interest from consumers interested in safely sourced reliable food. In 2020 many CSAs adapted by offering contact-free pickup, or home delivery, as well as online ordering.