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Bringing Farmers and Customers CloserTom and Gretchen Morris and their son live in an apartment in town, but they talk about "their farm." Each Saturday during the growing season they drive 9 miles from their Madison, Wisc., apartment to the farm. There they pick up two bags brimming with fresh vegetables, hand pick a bundle of flowers and herbs and roam the fields. In a way it is their farm. The Morris' have joined a growing grassroots movement called Community Supported Agriculture. For an annual membership of about $300, they receive a share of the farm's harvest - a full season's worth of fresh, organic produce. CSAs were first created in Japan 30 years ago and spread to the United States in 1985. There are now over 1,000 farms nationwide, from urban areas like Boston to rural communities in Iowa. CSAs are popular for a number of reasons: * Farmers are assured of a market and take less of a financial risk because their customers pay before the growing season begins. Plus, farmers bypass wholesalers and stores that dilute profits. * Members of a CSA get to know the people who grow their food. They can also meet other like-minded people. * Members can learn gardening skills. Many CSAs allow members to help in the fields and may even offer a discount for the help. * Children learn where food comes from and gain a connection to the growing process. * Members receive fresh, healthy, seasonal produce each week from Spring through Fall. Some CSAs also offer flowers, fruit, meat, honey, eggs and dairy products. For more information To learn more about CSAs, visit the Community Supported Agriculture of North America's web site. The organization is part of the University of Massachusetts Extension program. Click on the Robyn Van En Center for a list of CSAs in your state. Slow Food is an international group dedicated to preserving regional cuisine. Food First is a think tank and educational center committed to finding solutions to poverty and hunger. If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail: info@gardeners.com
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