CSA Network

Not Wholesale--Whole community!

Just Food's CSA Network affirms common values that celebrate the most meaningful elements of the CSA model. City Groups and Farmers in our network are committed to supporting local, sustainable agriculture, fostering community, fighting for a just food system, and upholding the CSA model--a model that has the power to transform economies, communities, and lives through food.

As of 2010, Just Food has helped over 100 CSAs get off the ground, representing approximately 30,000 people with access to farm fresh produce. The modest yearly fee for joining the CSA Network will help Just Food support the existing CSAs around the city, as well as, new city groups and additional farms. This will, in turn, take us one step closer to our goal of giving every New Yorker the ability to eat fresh, local food.

Network Farmers & City Groups work actively to:

Support Local Farms
Promote sustainable and organic growers
Advance Food Justice
Facilitate farm/city partnerships
Foster community
Support the CSA Network

To find out more about these goals, click the links above or scroll down!

Support local farms

CSAs provide unparalleled support to small-scale, family farms in the NYC region. Food that is locally grown and quickly delivered tastes better and is more nutritious. By buying local, New Yorkers can keep their food dollars in the local economy, preserve natural resources and protect farmland, and reduce their "foodprint" by limiting the miles food must travel to reach their plates.

CSAs	Farmers
Participate in Just Food's farmer matching service to find a local grower that has completed Just Food's farmer application process	Grow food within 250 miles of New York City
	Participate in Just Food's farmer application process

Promote sustainable & organic growers

Just Food CSA farms are committed to sustainable farming and good growing practices that protect natural resources, ensure freshness and quality, and support the health of their workers and members.

CSAs	Farmers
Preserve quality by storing produce in cool area until member pick-up	Utilize organic or sustainable practices to build and maintain healthy soils
	Manage pests, weeds, disease and soil fertility without the use of synthetic insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilizers, and other synthetic toxic materials
	Source organic seeds whenever possible, substituting with conventional only when organic is not available. Strictly avoid the use of GMO seeds
	Use careful post-harvest handling practices, harvest at peak and quickly move produce to a cool area for storage
	Maintain high food safety standards by using potable water to wash vegetables and keeping washing/packing/storage area clean
	If sourcing from another farm, advise CSA members on that farm’s growing practices

Advance food justice

Just Food CSAs strive to make fresh, healthy, locally grown food available to everyone. To this end, Just Food CSAs adopt practices that give all New Yorkers, regardless of their income, the opportunity to partake in the CSA bounty. Farmers and farmworkers should receive fair treatment and compensation for their labor.

CSAs	Farmers
Offer flexible payment options (e.g., sliding scale charges, payment plans, ability to apply SNAP benefits, discounted share prices, revolving loan funds)	Offer support for flexible payment options offered by their groups (e.g., free shares, delayed payment plans)
Create a relationship with a food pantry, soup kitchen or other emergency food provider to donate surplus food to at the end of distribution	Pay reasonable wages to allow workers to meet their needs
Translate CSA materials into relevant language for the local community to encourage participation	Provide workers’ compensation to employees
Attend CSA for Everyone workshops (core group representative)	Treat everyone who works on the farm with respect
Establish a role on the core group which is focused on educating members on advocacy and policy issues
Host events that encourage members to think about food justice (e.g., movie, guest speaker)

Facilitate farm/city partnerships

Just Food CSAs rely on a partnership between farmers and members. The basis of the CSA model assumes that the members will share in the risk and reward of the harvest season with the farmer and will sustain this commitment to sharing risk and reward over the long-term. The Core Group members are the farm’s most important “Supporters,” sharing in decision-making and management while representing the farm in NYC. This partnership enhances members’ connection to their farm and provides farmers with a connection to their members.

CSAs	Farmers
Core group organizers relay information from the farm to the wider membership (newsletter, e-mail, website)	Communicate regularly with core group organizers
Commit to supporting the farm throughout an entire season	Offer to meet with members during the off-season
Allow the farmer to determine the share content each week. A wide diversity of crops will minimize the risk of crop loss and keep the farm healthy	Maintain transparency regarding growing and labor practices
If problems arise, communicate with your farmers and with Just Food as early as possible and as frequently as necessary	If problems arise, communicate with your members and with Just Food as early as possible and as frequently as necessary
Conduct an annual survey regarding member satisfaction and respond to feedback	Respond to survey feedback
Pay as much of the share price as possible, as early as possible

Foster community

Just Food CSAs offer members and farmers the opportunity to build relationships with each other and to be a part of a community.

CSAs	Farmers
All CSA members contribute some work time to help the CSA run smoothly	Offer at least one farm trip per season
Host events to promote member interactions (e.g., potlucks, movie nights, field trips)	Participate in CSA events when possible
Create opportunities for members and farmers to interact with each other
CSA membership must be open and accessible to anyone in the community who wants to join

Support the CSA Network

Just Food CSAs are a part of a greater community of people and farmers dedicated to the success of the CSA movement. In order for all of the CSAs in NYC to thrive, each CSA needs to participate in and take into consideration the broader CSA community.

CSAs	Farmers
When expanding an existing or starting a new CSA site, discuss with Just Food the impact on the overall CSA network	When expanding an existing or starting a new CSA site, discuss with Just Food the impact on the overall CSA network
If CSA membership is full, refer interested potential members to other CSAs in the area	Share knowledge and experience with other farmers; participate in the CSA conference, attend the biennial Farmer Summit
Share knowledge and experience with other CSAs by participating in the online Meet-Up group; attending JF workshops, participating in the CSA mentoring program
Attend the annual JF CSA conference