Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs directly link local residents and
nearby farmers, eliminating "the middleman" and increasing the benefits to both the
farmer and the consumer. In a CSA program, a farmer grows food for a group of local
residents (called "shareholders" or "subscribers") who commit at the beginning of each
year to purchase part of that farm's crop. The shareholders thus directly support a local
farm and receive a low-cost weekly or monthly supply of fresh, high-quality produce.
The farmers receive an initial cash investment to finance their operation and a higher
percentage of each crop dollar because of direct delivery. Both parties jointly share the
benefits and risks.