Perhaps best illustrating the me´lange of models is Feagan and Henderson’s (2008) work, which organizes CSA
on a continuum. At one of the end of the spectrum, the
collaborative model incorporates elements of community
through partnerships between the farmer and members and
at the other end is the instrumental model consisting of an
economic arrangement between the aforementioned with
no elements of community. In the center, the functional
model promotes greater harmony between farmers and the
community than the instrumental model, however members
only are partially committed to sharing risks with farmers.
The authors assert in the ideal CSA, members ‘‘create
relationships of trust with their CSA farmers’’ and it should
provide alternatives to the market by sharing risk with the
farm (Feagan and Henderson 2009, p. 205). The collaborative model however, is not realistic for all CSA farmers
and members. Using Feagan and Henderson’s (2009)
continuum, we attempt to characterize CSA in New York
based on a survey of CSA members.