CSA is a fresh produce distribution system where growers develop an arrangement with members to supply them with a weekly supply of mixed fruit and vegetables. More specifically, the term CSA refers to veggie box schemes where members pay at the start of each season for their produce and are known as “share-holders” and are entitled to a “share” of the harvest.  

Delivery of the produce usually occurs at a pre-arranged time on a weekly basis.  Boxes are usually dropped off by the farmer at a specified location (for eg. a member’s front entrance, local park etc) and members are then able to pick up their box.  For example members might go to a central member’s house to pick up their box from their front porch every Friday afternoon between 3pm and 6pm.

This arrangement of an up front payment allows farmers to receive start up costs for the season and if a crop fails, the risk is not solely borne by the farmer, as is typically the case, but shared between the farmer and the CSA's share-holders. For CSAs who have been operating for some time, the risk is not of great concern for share-holders.  For example, a 2004 study of 276 share-holders from 4 CSA farms in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States found that 88% of share-holders were comfortable with the amount of risk they had accepted (Oberholtzer 2004).

Above: The contents of a veggie box from Grow Lightly South Gippsland (clockwise from bottom left: bag of kiwi and tamarillo, warrigal greens, pumpkin, hazelnuts, granny smith apples, bush herbs, garlic, potatoes, eggs and lemons)