CSA Box Program
2009 will mark the fifth season the UBC farm has offered shares in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project. This is a chance for members of the community to receive a weekly basket of fresh, organic produce from the farm, while students have the opportunity to learn about this innovative production and marketing system.
2009 CSA Program Details
*** Due to technical issues on our end, the 2009 CSA application process has been reopened. New deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday, June 15. ***
For more information please read our CSA program details. Apply to be a member here.
What is Community Supported Agriculture?
Community Supported Agriculture is one of the fastest growing forms of agriculture in North America. CSAs involve a partnership between consumers and producers in which consumers pay a set price to the farmer in the spring - essentially buying a share in the farm's anticipated harvest. In return, members receive a weekly box of the farm's produce throughout the season. CSAs help farmers by providing funds when input costs are high and by guaranteeing a market for the farm's produce. Consumers benefit by receiving fresh, high-quality food and by becoming more connected to the land on which their food is grown. As every season presents different challenges and opportunities for producers, CSAs are a system of "shared risk and reward." As such, we'll do our best to meet the target if produce happens to be sparse, and we'll include extras when they're abundant!
According to the operator of a CSA on Vancouver Island, “CSA creates ‘agriculture-supported communities’ where members receive a wide variety of foods harvested at their peak of ripeness, flavor and vitamin and mineral content. The goals of CSA support a sustainable agriculture system which strengthens local economies by keeping food dollars in local communities; directly links producers with consumers allowing people to have a personal connection with their food and the land on which it is produced; make nutritious, affordable, wholesome foods accessible and widely available to community groups; and educate the community about food security, food skills and garden skills.”
Research, Education and Sustainable Food Systems
UBC is unique in Canada by having the only functioning, small-scale, organic production system on a central university campus. CSAs play a significant role in the burgeoning sustainable agriculture movement, and are proving to be an important way to preserve small-scale farming enterprises and to educate more people about sustainable food production. The UBC Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program is a marketing initiative that is part of the student-run market garden at the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems. The CSA program provides experiential learning opportunities for students and volunteers, and all financial proceeds go towards the operation of the student-run market garden, which is a unique learning environment that directly benefits more than 2,000 UBC students each year.
The diversity of crops and methods used at the UBC farm also provides fertile ground for student and faculty research into low-input and sustainable agricultural techniques. It's also our goal to involve the wider community in our food production system. Involvement in the CSA program is not only an opportunity to appreciate fresh, organic produce, but also to follow the season at UBC and to try a wide variety of fruits and vegetables that are suited to our local climate and growing conditions. You may be surprised at what can be grown here!
Program details
If you're interested in finding out how the program works, you can see the program details below. You can also visit us at our Saturday Farm Markets.
2009 UBC Farm CSA Program Details (PDF, 100 KB)