Community supported agriculture: Land tenure, social context, production systems and grower perspectives

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a burgeoning agricultural model characterized by a direct relationship of commitment between consumers and growers. Consumers become seasonal subscribers or members of CSA farms and receive a weekly share of a variety of vegetables and other agricultural products.; This study involves the identification and description of factors of production systems, land tenure, social context and grower perspectives for CSA farms in the Northeast United States. The research findings reveal that CSA growers engage in similar resource management behaviors, despite differing influences of land tenure and a variety of social context factors, and explains growers' similar behaviors by their underlying agricultural perspectives. Thus, the study provides an illustration of the ability for human values to affect the management of agricultural natural resources to such a degree that said values can overcome a host of major influencing factors.; Profiles of CSA growers and their specific land tenure situations are presented, accompanied by a synthesis that identifies principal land tenure strategies that embrace the divisibility of property rights in land. A variety of indicators of the social context of CSA farms are covered, including farm income, enterprise investments, organizational structure, member roles, government influence, support from the larger community, and organic certification status. Soil and nutrient management practices described include crop rotation, compost use, commercial organic fertilizers, cover crops, soil testing and crop-specific nutrient plans. Pest management practices detailed include crop rotation, organic insecticides, row covers, manual insect removal, benefacials, and weed control. The analysis of CSA grower perspectives includes production experience, sources of information and motivations.; Recommendations for policy are made, and implications for future research are suggested. A discussion on theoretical implications cites the importance of considering both social and natural system factors in the analysis of agricultural systems.