The URGENCI International CSA conference was held for the first time in the United States last week in Pacific Grove. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend and hear from farmers, food policy folks, and sustainable food organizations from all over the country and the globe.
People from the United States, China, France, Japan, Australia, Canada, Mali, Mexico, and India were all in attendance and shared information on their CSA systems, challenges, and successes.
There is always an overload of information at conferences. All manner of things were discussed – best practices for packing,
delivery, billing, distrution as well as how to engage and connect with membership, make CSA’s accesible to low-income communities and more. All of these were interesting, important and valuable to hear about. But the theme that was the most evident, the most powerful, and shared by all, was that the CSA movement was born out of a commitment of farmers and eaters to change the food system for the better. At their best, a CSA should connect a person to the place where their food is grown and should bring people who care about food, environment, and health together.
At the closing remarks of the conference, one long time CA farmer remarked that the conference was a useful forum to discuss how to further grow the CSA movement, but that we forgot to do one very important thing – to invite all of you!
Commited membership is the lifeblood of a CSA and your insights, ideas, and help are necessary to change the food system. As always, we value and appreciate your membership, but also welcome your contributions to the farm and the CSA. Whether it be in contributing a favorite recipe or writing a guest column for the newsletter, volunteering at an event, stopping to chat with a fellow member at pick-up, sharing information on the CSA with friends, or sending us a quick email with thoughts, insights, or suggestions. With 37 million eaters in the state of CA alone, we are inspired to connect more of these to sustainable farms and good food. Help us spread the word about CSA’s!
