CSA is a ‘grassroots’ movement: it emerged entirely from the actions of individuals
and groups of concerned people. Therefore there is no one definition and no one
organisation or group that can claim ownership or define boundaries; it has arisen in
different contexts producing a wide diversity of form and scale. There are differing
views about exactly what enterprises should be included and some grey areas, for
example at either end of the scale spectrum. The key feature that distinguishes it
from other models that have a direct relationship between producers and consumers
lies in the nature of that relationship. Consumers ‘join’ a CSA and become
‘members’; they enter into some form of partnership arrangement with the food
producer and offer a level of commitment that represents more than an economic
transaction. In many cases, some or all members engage in additional activities to
support the enterprise by helping with food production directly or with the administration or other activities. In some community initiated schemes all the food
is produced by volunteer members.