There is a popular saying (and marketing idea) you may have heard recently; “Know your Farmer, Know your Food”. It’s a great way to take responsibility for your families food nutrition and safety, but how do you do it if you don’t happen to know any farmers? Most communities in Michigan have farmers nearby, but you are looking for a certain farmer who actually grows produce you can eat. In mid Michigan and across the nation cash crop farmers are vastly more prevalent and in many areas finding a farmer who grows fruits and vegetables for neighbors and local residents can be tough. I’ll share some tips on how to join a CSA or farm co-op in this article, which is one of the most popular ways to connect with a local farmer and the freshest local foods.
Many people look to join a CSA (community supported agriculture), also known as a farm co-op. It is probably the best way you can actually get to know the person who is growing your food, in fact it’s probably the only way to actually have someone growing food that is specifically for you. Joining a CSA is not only a great way to get to know your farmer, it’s the best way to actually get hands on knowledge of your food. By joining a CSA you will usually get access to the farm and farmer. We’ve been operating a successful CSA for several years here on our farm and had our first official “Farm Day” last year. This year we plan to have several more so our members can see their produce in various stages of growth and production. So it you really like the wisdom of “Know your Farmer, Know your Food” idea, you might consider joining a CSA or farm co-op in your area.
How to Join a CSA or Farm Co-op
The first step to joining a CSA is to find one and that is going to be pretty simple with access to the Internet. Just do a simple search to find CSA farms in your area and make a list with contact information and details you may find online. If you don’t have access to the Internet or you don’t find any results of local farmers who offer a CSA membership you could also visit your local farmers market and ask around. Farmers markets are another good way to get to know a farmer as well, I’d say that is probably the next best way to access local produce, next to a CSA farm. If you have found your search for a local CSA farm to be futile, then consider contacting the closest CSA farms you can find and ask them if they would consider a CSA pick-up in your area. I get several calls like this each year and it’s helped us to expand our CSA program, so make the call. Another good way to locate a CSA farm near you is to visit one of my favorite websites http://www.localharvest.com is great resource for finding locally grown fruits and veggies.
Now that you have found a few CSA farms and have their contact information, take some time to get in touch and talk with a few farmers about their CSA or farm Co-op. Not all CSA programs are equal, in fact I have yet to find two that are same. Farmers are people and they all have a different approach or philosophy on growing food. There are many conventional produce growers out there who offer a community supported agriculture program to simply help with cash flow. Others are very in tune with growing sustainable, nutritious vegetables but require all members to work on the farm. You’ll find certified organic CSA farms, chemical free farms, naturally grown, etc. You’ll need to figure our what is important to you and how you want your food grown, that is really the bottom line. I recommend doing your research during the winter months so you can take your time.
Common sense can be your best ally when making a decision on which CSA program you should join. First of all, if you don’t agree with the farmers philosophy and growing methods, just check it off your list. I’ve heard many farmers say you can’t grow produce without spraying synthetic pesticides/herbicides and anyone who says different is lying….. That’s a bunch of bunk, just so you know. Another common sense approach is to look at how the farmer approaches risk. It’s an “accepted” idea that by joining a CSA you share in risks associated with farming. The problem with that is; How much risk is smart to share? If a farmer isn’t set up with irrigation to eliminate the risk of drought, then don’t join the CSA! If the farmer doesn’t have a farm plan that reduces or eliminate the risk of complete crop failure due to disease, then keep looking.
Our CSA program isn’t the cheapest of the local CSA programs but we invest in our farm and the crops so that widespread crop failure isn’t a concern. Sure we might have a variety here and there that doesn’t do well, but we have other varieties in different fields so we still have plenty of produce for the weekly pick ups. I recommend finding a farmer who is realistic and not optimistic. The challenges to good production are pretty basic and a good farmer can meet those challenges with strategies and plans that reduce or negate risk, that’s his job.
So we’ve talked about finding a good CSA farm, learning about a farmers philosophy and growing methods, and using common sense to choose a good CSA that manages risk so you receive a good value for your money. I like to remind people how important philosophy is. There are many CSA farms, maybe most, who cater to the “novelty crowd”. This is the crowd who joins a CSA or buys produce at a famers market for the idea of it. It makes them feel good to support local farmers. This crowd has done a ton to improve access to fresh local produce and I have the utmost respect and appreciation for them. For some people, maybe you, it isn’t about novelty and feeling good. It’s about getting great food AND great value. We have focused our CSA membership on people who are feeding families and expect a great value, it’s about the food. I know several other successful CSA farms who have done the same. You may not read about these CSA farms as much in newspapers or magazines, but they probably feed way more people than the CSA farmers who focus more on the novelty shoppers. I’ve learned that by sharing information about our growing practices, our trials and experiments, and growing heirloom vegetables, I’ve been able to serve both.
It is my hope that your are more well equipped to know your farmer and know your food. If you have other question about how to join a CSA or farm co-op please feel free to ask in the comments or send and email or give me a call. We are currently enrolling new members in our CSA program, if you happen to live in the Mid Michigan area, I’d love the opportunity to grow your families food.
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