CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.
"This is a relationship between a farmer who grows organic fruits and vegetables, and local members of the public who want to support that farmer in his or her agricultural efforts and who want to enjoy the benefits of eating the freshest, most wholesome farm produce available." (quoted from Farmer Erick).
You might think that since you are shopping at an organic supermarket and paying the expensive prices that you are getting the best that money can buy. You might be. But before you decide, read the following article by Field Maloney: "Is Whole Foods Wholesome - The dark secrets of the organic-food movement". This article reminds us that not everything is as it seems and it is hard to know what "organic" really means these days. And who really IS helping the family farm. Why not support your neighborhood family farm directly?
Here are some quotes from Farmer Erick (at Jubilee Farm) in his weekly letters (which come neatly packed between the fruits and veggies):
Mineralization and Microbes: "I've talked before about the importance of mineralization of the soil, and the importance of balancing minerals and nutrients in the soil. And this is necessary - if the raw materials aren't present there can be no plant growth. But having the minerals and nutrients there and in abundance is not sufficient. You also need the presence of the microbes. And the more microbes there are, and the more diverse they are, the better the plant is served."
Bio-diesel: "As most of you know, we just finished our third year as a "petroleum free" farm. So far we're the only ones in our valley using bio-diesel".
Crop-diversity: "The single most distinctive principle of organic farming is not the elimination of chemicals, but crop diversity. Diversity is the pathway to the elimination of chemicals, and the only practice that makes it possible to eliminate chemicals. "Deep" organic farmers know this, and practice it. But corporate farms, wishing to cash in on the market share of the organic industry, don't care about diversity. Nor do they care about the second most distinctive principle of true organic farming - rotation and cover cropping. These practices are encouraged, but not required for certification." "There are organic granulated fertilizers, and they have a place in the over-all fertility plan of an organic farm, but when they become a substitute for rotation and cover-cropping, the distinctive nature of organic farming is gone." |
