Organic Food Baskets

Community Supported Agriculture
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), often referred to simply as "organic food baskets," is a concept which links consumers to local organic farms. You become "partner" of a farm by prepurchasing a share of the season's harvest. Participating vegetable farms deliver baskets of fresh produce to a drop-off point in your neighbourhood each week.  Livestock farms offer their cuts of meat subject to an initial deposit. The delivery schedule is different for each farm.

CSA projects have an important social dimension as well, since they allow you to get to know your "family farmers" by lending a hand on the farm or just dropping by for a visit.

In 2005, the CSA network in Quebec boasts 97 participating farms, 77 of which sell the vegetables and meats they produce, while the remaining 20 supply these farms with products they can sell separately (honey, apple products, cheeses, etc.). Équiterre estimates that some 7,500 contracts for weekly food baskets will be drawn up this year, providing at least 20,000 people with delicious, fresh organic foods throughout the season. There are more than 300 drop-off points in the province where consumers can pick up their baskets directly from their "family farmer."

Équiterre's objective is to support the development of these CSA farms and to promote the organic food basket concept to the general public.

Philosophy

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) provides a real boost to small-scale farming in Quebec. By purchasing a "share" of a farm's harvest at the beginning of the season, you allow the farmer to plan his/her season with a measure of financial security; in return, you get to enjoy the organic farmer's delicious, fresh, nutritious produce throughout the season! CSA also ensures that the farmer receives the full price paid for his/her produce, further encouraging sound, sustainable farming practices.

CSA encourages local organic food production which promotes, among other things, human health and environmental protection. By participating in CSA, you can eat organic food at an affordable price.

A word about participating farms

The farms in the network are all different, with each operating in its own way according to its specialties and the needs of its partners. However, all CSA projects must meet the following four criteria:

• Organic agriculture
  The fruits, vegetables and meat supplied in baskets are certified "organic" under the Act Respecting Reserved Designations.  Some farms, however, may be in the process of obtaining certification.
• Risk and benifits sharing
  Consumers purchase a share of a farm's products in advance, thereby becoming "partners." They pledge to support the farm by sharing the risks and benefits inherent in agriculture. In return, the farm pledges to provide a wide variety of quality products.
• Local production
  Most of the fruits (at least 75 % in the summer and 50 % in the winter) , vegetables and meat supplied is grown on the farm, although some produce may come from other local and organic farms.
• Social dimension
  By establishing a direct link between the consumer and the farmer, CSA helps change attitudes and behaviours. This direct relationship encourages a sense of community and cooperation.

Organic meat

The CSA meat formula
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a system that allows consumers to be active participants in their own vegetable and meat supply. The formula, generally in the form of produce baskets received directly from their family farmer, applies equally well to livestock.  Équiterre oversees the application of this formula and has established the following rules in conjunction with participating animal farms.

Family livestock farmers
Knowing the producer who supplies your meat is a real privilege. In a sense, the farmer who raises animals, feeds them and cares for them throughout their lives is your "family farmer." This farmer needs your support as much as the vegetable farmer.

A mutual commitment
When you sign up with a CSA animal farmer, you pledge to order a minimum of $200 worth of meat over the following six months. You advance half of this amount up front in order to help fund the farmer during the period when he must feed, care for, transport and slaughter the animal and deliver the meat to you.

In exchange, the organic animal farmer with whom you become a "partner" agrees to give you priority for the cuts over his other sources of distribution. This may vary from one farm to the next depending on what is offered.

How it works
Upon registration, the "partner" signs an agreement with the producer formalizing their mutual commitment and makes a $100 deposit.  Later, the ''partner'' orders organic meat or produce baskets over a six-month period, based on the farm's delivery schedule.  When the partner has used up the initial sum, he can commit to another $200 in purchases and deposit another $100 advance.