Sustainable CSA approach
Article content
More people are choosing to buy local foods and support area farmers - due in part to a growing and increasingly popular concept called community supported agriculture (CSA).
One farm just south of Langton, has been operating a CSA system for the past three years.
“I went to school at the University of Guelph and when I was there the tobacco industry was going downhill so I was looking for alternatives,” said Greg Boyd, owner of Heritage Lane Produce. “That’s where I became familiar with the CSA terminology.
“It’s a food share program where at the beginning of the season, people pay a lump sum for a right to the share of that harvest throughout the summer and into the fall.”
Boyd took over the family farming business five years ago, and now operates his grandfather’s former tobacco farm. With an uncertain future in the tobacco industry, he opted to focus on fresh market produce.
“We started out the first year with two farmers markets – one in Tillsonburg seasonally and then the Simcoe farmers market on Thursdays year round,” said Boyd. “In our second year, we needed a third market so instead of going out looking for one, we decided to create one in the area. We call it our produce box program.”
The CSA program has traditionally been used in urban centres where there is a high population of people. Consumers can pay into and purchase whatever quantity they want and are given a box of freshly picked produce that’s in season.
“They share in the production of the farm,” Boyd added. “So if there’s an abundance of carrots that week or an abundance of tomatoes, they get more of that - they get basically one of everything.
“They come to the farm and pick it up, usually it’s already prepared but some farmers have it all laid out on display in the barn or in the store. They’ll have their box and they’ll take a portion of fresh produce. That’s the traditional CSA model and what it’s all about.”
The CSA or box program as it’s called at Heritage Lane Produce, takes place over an approximate 20-week period from early June to the end of October every year. Being in a rural area without access to a large population, Heritage Lane Produce has built in more flexibility than what a traditional CSA model would involve.
“What that means is we don’t require an up-front payment at the beginning of the year, you can just pay by the week,” said Boyd. “Another thing we offer is substitutions. With CSA it’s a set amount every week - you take what you get. Whereas we offer people the option to choose something else. And that’s how we’ve maintained our flexibility and I think that is what’s really attracted people.”
Heritage Lane Produce provides customers with a choice of two box sizes – depending on the size of family and their needs. A small box is a half-bushel, approximately 20 pounds of food, and provide fresh produce for a family of two for one or two weeks on average. The large box is doubled, is one bushel and is approximately 40 pounds of fresh produce. For example, a small box would include one bunch of carrots, a basket of beans, one basket of potatoes, one bunch of beets and one bag of spinach.
Heritage Lane Produce doesn’t use any chemicals – no seed, soil or plant treatment of any kind and nothing for weed, disease or insect control, providing its customers with all-natural, chemical-free produce.
Boyd noted they do rely on crop rotation, cover cropping and Mother Nature to grow a healthy crop every year.
Local reaction to community supported agriculture has been a big part of their success said Boyd, noting that in 2012 the box program averaged 50 boxes a week. In 2013 they are anticipating approximately 80-85 boxes a week.
“At the beginning we weren’t sure of what age group we would be tailoring to, but it’s across the board – young families, retired folk, everyone’s interested,” he said. “You just can’t compare to the freshness that you get when something’s been picked the day before. That’s been the biggest draw.
“But we have to be willing to make it accessible and it has to be affordable,” he added. “It’s got to be at a price that people are willing to pay, but at the same time, I think the quality of the product and freshness is what will have people coming back.”
Boyd pointed out some of the common characteristics of the CSA model including a focus on smaller-scale production, an organic or chemical-free approach and a more intensive, hands-on approach in terms of growing and harvesting the crop. Community supported agriculture also provides for more personable service and more interaction with the buyer.
“We know the final consumer – we see them face to face and we know who’s eating our food,” said Boyd noting that the concept is growing in popularity.
There is an important feature with the CSA system that helps make it a success and benefits everyone involved.
“You form a relationship with your numerous consumers that is based on trust. You have to be accountable and up front with how you grow your crops - that’s what consumers want to know,” said Boyd. “A carrot’s a carrot but people want to know that that carrot came from you and how you grew it. Consumers are demanding that today.
“It’s going back to the responsibility of the producers - we have to be able to deliver on that if we want this local food movement to continue to go forward. Consumers are demanding our trust. That’s the most important thing, and in our CSA model, the consumers get exactly that.”
For more information on Heritage Lane Produce visit www.heritagelaneproduce.com.