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Re: Help on Pricing



As a means of coming to a price for CSA shares Steven McFadden suggested
that farmers and members ask:

>What does is the true cost of maintaining and improving our
>farm?  What does it take to keep our farm alive and feeding people, and
>acting as a center -- an oasis -- or environmental and community health. 

I am in deep agreement with Steven's point.  One of the ways in which CSA
really differs from the conventional food system is that  pricing can be
based not just on what the market will bear, but on what a farm needs to
thrive.  This includes not only the cost of inputs (seeds,
compost/fertilizer, fuel, etc.) and a living wage for the farmer, but
capital expenses for long-term growth and costs to hold farm festivals,
publish newsletters, attend conferences, etc.  A year-long budget for the
farm can include all of those things (and more), and the CSA members can
cover part (or all) of the budget.  

For instance, a farmer with a $70,000 farm budget might decide that the CSA
could cover $40,000 and that the farm could reasonably grow and distribute
100 shares.  Each share would thus be $400 (regardless of the price of
lettuce -- organic or conventional -- in your area).  The members are
supporting a whole-farm operation, not just buying based on a price per pound.

As Jo & Jim pointed out, though, many farms charge about a dollar per pound
of total veggies delivered (which is a great deal for some items and off the
charts for others).  But I'd be surprised if this didn't turn out to be a
*rule of thumb* for the general amount necessary to sustain a healthy farm.

Sarah Milstein
Just Food CSA Program Coordinator & Roxbury Farm NY Member