Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) an innovative way to establish a direct connection between farmer and the customer. CSA's eliminate long-distance shipping, wholesale and retail middlemen, and the time between harvest and display. Originally set up by small produce farms, a similar, farm-to-vase model has been adopted by flower farmers.
Typically, customers purchase a share (could also be called a subscription or a membership) at the beginning of the growing season, and, in return, receive a bouquet of flowers each week for a specific period of time (8 weeks, 12 weeks, 3 months, etc.).
This arrangement creates rewards on both side of the transaction:
Advantages to the customer:
Receive ultra-fresh flowers, many times picked that morning, to ensure the longest vase life possible
Get exposed to new types and varieties of flowers
Know that your purchase is going toward supporting a local, family-owned farm, rather than paying for long-distance shipping and multiple middlemen
Establish a relationship with a local flower farmer; many farms welcome visits by their CSA members
Advantages to the farmer:
Spend time marketing early in the year, before 12 hour days in the field begin
Receive payment in time to purchase seeds, which helps with cash flow
Have an opportunity to get to know the people who are enjoying their flowers
Like to learn more? Check out our CSA page.
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