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Re: subscription - csa definitions
Sarah's response about distinctions between CSA's and subscription agriculture captured what I regard as the main points. One aspect of the difference in commitment/involvement as I see it would be that in subscription agriculture, the farm manager(s)/operator(s) might tend to function like many small businesses -- analyzing a potential market, trying to provide a mix of products & services that they want, etc., with the management burden mostly on the grower(s). In a CSA, it seems that members of the core group are more involved in fundamental mangement decisions and responsibilities.
I would guess that the way each individual operation defines itself would create quite a continuum with regard to that dimension. I would also guess that no two of us use the terms in precisely the same way. That just makes it all so much more interesting!
Susan Smalley
At 12:16 PM 10/17/97 -0400, Sarah Milstein wrote:
>>Could someone provide me with a definition of subscription agriculture
>>as compared to csa?
>
>There doesn't seem to be full consensus on these terms, but I've used (and
>heard) them to mean the following:
>
>Subscription generally refers to an arranngemnet whereby the members are not
>committed for a full season, but rather for a period of weeks or a month at
>a time, and can cancel at any time. Usually there is less member
>involvement in the farm, and there may be no core group. Subscription
>farming seems to be more common on the West Coast.
>
>CSA generally refers to an arrangement in which the members are committed on
>a season-long basis. Often, CSAs have higher levels of member involvement
>w/the farm, and there's more likely to be a core group. This set-up is more
>prevalent in the East.
>
>These are not hard-and-fast definitions, but some workable ones that account
>for useful distinctions between famrs.
>
>Anyone (everyone) else have thoughts on the subject?
>
>Sarah
>
>
>
<paraindent><param>left</param>Susan B. Smalley
Professional Development Coordinator smalley@msue.msu.edu
Michigan State University Extension 517-432-0049 voice
11 Agriculture Hall 517-432-1048 fax
</paraindent><bigger> </bigger>East Lansing, MI 48824-1039
www://http.msue.msu.edu
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