How Are CSA’s So Cheap?

With the cost of groceries seemingly going up, up, and away, how can CSA’s offer fresh, low cost, healthy produce and more?

CSA stands for ”Community Supported Agriculture.” In a nutshell, CSA’s are cooperatives that pair communities with local farmers for low cost, fresh from the farm produce and other foods. (If you would like to learn more about CSA’s click here.) CSA’s help farmers plan what they plant, budget accordingly, and avoid taking out high risk loans. What farmers save in overhead costs, they are able to pass on in savings to their respective CSA’s.

CSA’s also use the collected efforts of their members to help further subsidize the cost of food. Often CSA member-volunteers do all the marketing, administration, and distribution work themselves. Again, the money that is saved by not hiring people to do these tasks is reflected in the relatively low cost of CSA foods.

In addition to our farmers and members, the Central Brooklyn CSA is supported by the New York City Coalition Against Hunger (NYCCAH). This unique partnership helps us offer different membership rates and payment plans for members of different incomes and even accept Food Stamps as payment!

That is how the Central Brooklyn CSA provides its members with low cost sustainably grown local produce. Simple, isn’t it?