Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance

Fair food for all Australians

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Community Supported Agriculture

Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is a model of food production and distribution that directly connects farmers and eaters – people buy shares in a farm’s projected harvest in advance and for a set period (a season, or a year, for example) and receive regular deliveries.

Being part of CSA is a way for eaters to share with the farmer the costs and risks of farming as well as the bounty.

CSAs vary in their structure and payment terms, but the principle is that farms supply their produce directly to their members through a subscription model – a commitment from the eater is made to accept the produce they are given and to share the risk of the harvest with the farmer.

CSA started in the 1970s in Japan by organic vegetable farmers and is now widespread and growing around the world. It is based on the Principles of Teikei (1978).

Principles of Teikei

Principle of mutual assistance

Principle of accepting the produce

Principle of mutual concession in the price decision

Principle of deepening friendly relationships

Principle of self-distribution

Principle of democratic management

Principle of learning among each group

Principle of maintaining the appropriate group scale

Principle of steady development

Australia has a growing CSA movement as small-scale farmers move to this solidarity economy for financial security, risk sharing, and deeper connection with the people who eat their produce.

To find a CSA near you, check out our directory!

FAQ

Q I am not a farmer, but I aggregate multiple farmers’ produce and distribute boxes to a community of eaters each week. Am I a CSA?

A No. A CSA is a direct relationship between farmers and eaters. There are many excellent box schemes in Australia (such as the pioneers and food sovereignty activists who do such good work at Food Connect), and these are all part of the broader food sovereignty movement, but they are not CSA.

Q I am a farmer who sells directly to a regular group of customers who pay weekly. Am I a CSA?

A It depends. If you have a commitment from your community to share the risk of your harvest with you – that is, they would still pay if your tomatoes were wiped out by blight or your entire crop by hail – then yes, that is fundamentally CSA. If your customers would not pay if your crop failed under the examples above, then it is not a CSA, which has at its essence the sharing of risks and benefits.

AFSA is a proud member of

Urgenci: The International Network for Community-Supported Agriculture.

CSA News…

AFSA Solidarity Economies Session #2 – Collaborative Economies

WATCH: AFSA Solidarity Economies Session #2 - Collaborative Economies Join us for AFSA Solidarity Economies Session #2 talking collaboration and ...
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Solidarity Economies Session #1 – Everything you ever wanted to know about building a CSA

WATCH: AFSA Solidarity Economies Session #1 - Building a CSA Join AFSA Farmers Tammi Jonas of Jonai Farm, Ant Wilson ...
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Help AFSA publish Farming Democracy: The True Cost of Farming!

Want transparency in the food system? How about a dose of democracy? Then help AFSA publish Farming Democracy: The True ...
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Farmer member profile – Old Mill Road Biofarm, NSW

Member profile – Old Mill Road BioFarm, NSW By Sophie Lamond (AFSA) and Fraser Bayley This year AFSA is getting ...
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CSA at Jonai Farms

AFSA President Tammi Jonas wrote about their experience of Jonai Farms' successful CSA over on their farm blog: The Farmer ...
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CSA at Transition Farm (Victoria)

Excerpt from Peter Carlyon's account of why Transition Farm is a CSA: As we are now supplying 80 families every ...
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Benefits of Food Localisation for Northeast Ohio

The 25% Shift The Benefits of Food Localization for Northeast Ohio & How to Realize Them This is a really ...
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Recent Posts

  • Intervention on the Global Biodiversity Framework calls for support to peasants and indigenous peoples’ as stewards of biodversity
  • Submission to the Independent Review of the Agvet Chemicals regulatory system
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Latest submissions

Local Laws submission to defend the right to common resources

Last week AFSA made a submission to the Hepburn Shire Council to defend residents’ rights to forage, collect firewood, have more than 20 chooks, and salvage materials from the tip and roadside without need for a permit. We were concerned that these laws originated from overzealous risk management policies rather than residents’ interests. Further, they […]

FSANZ proposes ‘licence to sell lettuce’ – AFSA says NO

On 3 May 2019, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) released an information paper on its proposed approach to a review of food safety standards in the Food Standards Code (the Review). The intention is to create a consistent and up-to-date approach to food safety management with regard to so-called “high-risk horticulture,” which includes a […]

NSW Fresh Food Pricing Parliamentary Inquiry Hearing

On Friday 22 June 2018, AFSA attended the NSW Fresh Food Pricing Parliamentary Inquiry Hearing at Parliament House in Sydney. AFSA was selected and recognised as a key stakeholder in the food system by the parliamentary members in this Upper House inquiry. Tammi Jonas, president of AFSA, and our paralegal Sarah de Wit were welcomed […]

Response to the Proposed Draft Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry

View AFSA’s entire submission here.  The current review of the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals – Domestic Poultry offers the first opportunity in 15 years to improve the minimum welfare standards for domestic poultry in Australia. It provides the chance to modify Australian standards to reflect current animal welfare science and […]

Poultry Welfare Reforms Fact Sheet

The Codes for animal welfare for poultry are being reviewed for the first time in over 15 years. The result will be one Australia-wide Code on animal welfare for poultry. Two main documents, along with an independent Farmed Bird Science Welfare Review and many supporting papers, have been released for public comment: The Draft Standards […]

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Recent posts

  • Intervention on the Global Biodiversity Framework calls for support to peasants and indigenous peoples’ as stewards of biodversity February 26, 2021
  • Submission to the Independent Review of the Agvet Chemicals regulatory system February 15, 2021
  • Solidarity Sessions 2021 – Tyson Yunkaporta & Tammi Jonas, Wed 3 Feb January 26, 2021
  • Can agriculture stop COVID-21, -22, and -23? Yes, but not by greenwashing agribusiness December 15, 2020
  • 2020 National Committee Report November 3, 2020

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