Members of the community create a partnership with a local farmer to share the cost of producing their food. The cost of production is determined each year ahead of the growing season and is divided among the members. This is called a member "share." Each member share is paid before the growing season. 

A CSA creates a mutual partnership between you and your food source. Currently, food travels an average of 1,500 miles to get from the farm to the grocery store. It takes 8 calories of energy to produce 1 calorie of food. Because of high equipment and input cost, farmers are forced to push production verses quality just to survive. Genetically modified plants are used for production and transportation, jeopardizing quality. Pesticides must be used on large acreages to control weed and insect problems.

Because a CSA is directly supported by its members, the farmer is free to produce the highest quality food possible, without the use of genetically modified plants and pesticides. And, it's the freshest food because it is grown locally, and picked at the peak of perfection.