The research makes several contributions to the study of CSAs and the field of
EE. First, findings indicate that the number of programs and shares are growing in
all three states. Second, regarding education, many CSAs offer recipes, newsletters,
farm tours, and classes. Others are training new farmers, conducting research,
building community partnerships, and organizing outreach, volunteer, service
learning, and social events. CSAs take the benefits of school and community gardens, and farm-to-school programs and make them more accessible to participating
members. This is argued to be important because CSA organizations can teach all
ages, not just school age children about these issues. Finally, the data illustrate a
network of people, organizations, and resources that are working together to build
alternative agrifood systems. This study offers us hope, because as human-scale,
community-based, and often socially and ecologically justice oriented enterprises;