Emerging trend for CSAs -- the All Star CSA

[KurtNYC]

I think this is good news. I am part of an organic farming venture this season and we were interviewing some sales people. Two of them related that they are seeing more movement away from the CSA model where each farmer grow everything to one where growers can specialize in what they grow best.

I think this is awesome because it will allow each farmer to be more efficient and grow better produce. In my area of the country, a lot of younger people are experimenting with small farms and CSAs. Customers of CSAs want variety so many beginning farmers feel pressured to grow 40 to 60 different vegetables. Now they can just master 2 or 3 and sell through a larger CSA without the burden of recruiting EVERY customer.

This is a big step toward re-establishing viable local food systems. Hopefully a focus on several crops instead of dozens will help small farmers turn a profit. It may also get more people to try crops that aren't as widely grown, and that should add to the range of variety available in many local communities.

I suppose the downside is that a good All Star CSA could keep newbies from getting established because, for example, if the Greenhorn wants to specialize in garlic, shallots and onions they would have to displace the more experienced "all star" garlic grower.

Is this trend good or bad for small growers?

[Major Nikon]

1. I can see it going either way

On one hand it makes things more efficient and cheaper for the farmer. On the other it appears to move away from the CSA model in favor of a co-op, which is certainly nothing new, but it locks the grower into a group that seems to be far less flexible.

[KurtNYC]

2. One version of this is mini-CSAs that do only medicinal herbs or just chicken and eggs

or just bread. If these guys coordinate on a pick up spot then a customer pick up each of their mini shares at the same time and place.

Here is the herbalist ("CSH&quot :
http://goodfightherbco.com/

There is a small farm locally that specializes in off-season CSA, both from a greenhouse and storage. They do salad greens, herbs and tomatoes from their greenhouse and carrots, onions, potatoes, parsnips from storage. They have a share that runs exactly opposite the 23 weeks that most others sell.

I think it takes coordination among growers but they retain independence. And the local CSA thing is very crowded now. Farmers' Markets are full or locked into the most long-term sellers. Processors and brokers pay no more than the Hunt's Point wholesale rate (10-cents a pound for potatoes, 22-cents for carrots in cello, etc.) so people are sort of expanding the whole concept of subscription-based DTC food.