What is a CSA
And Why It Matters
Have you ever felt disconnected from where the things you buy actually come from?
What if next time you bought something like dinner, or home decor – you knew everything about it? The name of the person who crafted it, the exact process it took to create it, exactly where the materials were sourced. Would it hold more value to you? More meaning?
That is why Local Products are superior.
Superior to their convenient, commercially produced counterparts. You know their story – and you aren’t just a consumer. You are a part of that story. And a really important one too!
In the farming community, there is a customer-farmer partnership that is growing in popularity along with the surge in the local foods movement. It is called a CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture. It’s okay if you’ve never heard this term before – I’m going to tell you exactly what it is, and why it is so important.
Simply put, a CSA is a subscription for farm products.
A customer purchases a share of a farm’s harvest well before that season even starts. Throughout the harvest, the CSA shareholder receives a regular portion of the harvest.
CSA programs are common in the vegetable world, but they are growing in popularity among flower lovers and flower farmers all over the US. Consumers are connecting with their local farmers in ways they never have before – building relationships and forging friendships that last a lifetime. In return, farmers are given a financial head-start on the season, and a guarantee that the fruits of their labors will not go unappreciated.
So Why Does a CSA Matter?
In our modern world, the focus is on convenience and availability. If we can’t have it now, we don’t want it. We have been conditioned to believe that seasonality doesn’t matter, and that anything we need should be available to us immediately. This disconnect has given us unrealistic expectations, and we have lost all sense of what the changing seasons really mean. In the floral industry, this had led to brides that insist on peonies for their August wedding, and mass-produced mum bouquets in grocery stores year-round. We have lost our connection to the natural world that we claim to love so much. And in truth, we are losing our ability to connect with each other.
When you sign up for a CSA, you are receiving the very best of what the season has to offer, in the exact moment that it is at its best. As the seasons change, what is naturally available also shifts. There is always something new, something different to experience. You won’t see this change in the big box stores, where the primary focus is on whatever can be forced in an unnatural setting.
In a cut flower CSA program, you can witness firsthand the changing and shifting of the flower field. Each week is different, and every bouquet is as unique as you and me. You will see specialty blooms that most people only ever get to experience on their wedding day. And the best part – everything is grown right here in your community, by farmers who know and care about you, and are committed to bringing you the highest quality.
What are the personal benefits of a CSA?
You might be wondering why a CSA is better than just a weekly routine stop at your local farmer’s market. And while both have an equally important role to play in agriculture, there are some benefits to being a CSA shareholder that you won’t find at the market.
A better value over time
In a flower subscription, CSA members often get first dibs on the freshest, lushest flowers of the season. The MVP’s of the flower world – like dahlias, sunflowers, and peonies – are often reserved for CSA members before they are offered at the roadside stand. Often CSA memberships include exclusive opportunities – like private you-pick events, discounted workshop seats, and freebies.
When you sign up for a CSA, you are entering into a contract with a local farmer, resulting in a guarantee of products to come. You can skip the lines and rely on a consistent supply of your favorite fresh blooms.
A purchase you can feel good about
CSA memberships support local, hardworking families and keep your dollars right here in your community. Local business owners are far more likely to support other local businesses. And when you pay for your subscription in advance, you provide the farmer with valuable income when they need it most – giving them a jumpstart in purchasing things like seed, fuel, and tools. It also allows the farmer to effectively plan their season, knowing exactly what they need and when. And when that level of planning can be achieved, there is less waste. More and more, small farms are relying on CSA sales models to keep their farms thriving.
Is a flower CSA right for you?
Do you enjoy having fresh flowers always available in your home?
Do you value locally produced goods?
Are you ready to reconnect with the changing of the seasons, and with your community?
Then a CSA is the right step for you.
More than a subscription
When you join a CSA program, you get more than just flowers. You get a deeply rooted connection to the land, the seasons, and to your community.
And that is a purchase you can feel good about.
