USDA-Economic Research Service (20062). Food marketing and price spreads: farm-to- retail price spreads for individual food items. .

CSA is in tune with Consumer

Trends • Local Food

• Food Safety

• Slow Food

What do CSA

customers

care about?

http://www.slowfoodusa.org/change/index.html

What is Community Supported

Agriculture?

• A personal relationship

• A common understanding

• A loyal connection

Where do I begin?

What Products do you Grow?

Worksheet #1, fill in:

Column A

How much do I need to grow & harvest each

week?

A Typical CSA will grow

over 30 varieties of crops

and harvest at least 7-12

crops per week!

When Do You Have It?

Worksheet #1, fill in: Column B

How long do I deliver?

•A Typical CSA delivery season will last from three months to a full year!

What’s It Worth to You?

Worksheet #1

Fill in Column C

Retail Prices

Rare or Unique Value

Convenience

Finding your Customers

1. Where do they live? 2. Where do they work?3. What do they enjoy?4. What do they buy?5. Where do they shop?

Who’s Gonna Buy It?

Fill in

Worksheet #2

The Essential Things

1. Weekly share content2. Learning from others3. Nutrition connection4. The F.A.Q.5. Number crunching

How much do I need to grow & harvest each

week?

Let’s look at:

Handout #1

How do I describe my CSA to customers?

Let’s look at:

Handout #2

How to help customers connect health with

CSA

Let’s look at:

Handout #3

What customer questions must I be ready to answer?

Let’s look at: Handou

t #4

What do you consider a catastrophic event for your farm?

What are your share sizes (for example: small, medium, large or individual, couple or family) and what items are typically in each share size you offer, throughout the season?

How much will a share cost?

When do I pay and do you have a payment plan?

What are the exact driving directions to your delivery/pickup location?

When are your weekly pickup times?

Can I get a refund, if I am not satisfied?

What basic production

concepts do I need to master?

Let’s look at:

Handout #5

Theresa J. NarteaAgribusiness & Marketing Specialist

NC A&T State University, Greensboro

The Cooperative Extension ProgramEmail: [email protected]

Phone: 336-334-7956, ext 2109

Thank you!Please fill out evaluations and leave on

seat.