Campus Supported Agriculture (CSA) Market Program

What is a CSA?
Why are CSA's Important?
How is the Clemson University CSA Unique?
Commonly Asked Questions about Clemson U's CSA
How to become a CSA member
2008 CSA Contract- PDF HTML

 

Campus Supported Agriculture (CSA) Market Program

The Clemson Student Organic Farm (SOF) is part of the 80-acre Calhoun Field Laboratory (aka “Clemson Bottoms”) that is utilized for research and demonstration of sustainable farming, landscape and aquaculture practices.  A portion of the CFL, the Student Organic Farm, is devoted to intensive production of organically grown crops such as seasonal vegetables, herbs and cut flowers.  Since its inception the SOF mission has been to explore more profitable and environmentally-friendly farming practices through research, education, and public service. 

The Clemson Campus Supported Agriculture (CSA) program was begun in the summer of 2002 as a public outreach effort.  The program is modeled after the Community Supported Agriculture concept whereby members buy seasonal shares in exchange for weekly supplies of produce and cut flowers. For the 2008 season the CSA program will run from May 7 through September 17.

 

 

What is a CSA?

Community Supported Agriculture was first introduced in the US east coast during the mid-1980s.  The CSA concept has grown in popularity and currently involves an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 consumer/members who rely on CSA arrangements for the majority of their produce. The Clemson Campus Supported Agriculture program serves to connect our stakeholders more closely with the Clemson Student Farm project and also with food and farming. It also provides a viable marketing opportunity and income to help support the project.

Why are CSA's Important?

Membership in the CSA is based on weekly shares of the harvest. Shareholders pay an advance seasonal membership fee in exchange for a weekly supply of produce harvested from the farm. One share is usually enough to feed a household of four or more. The produce, herbs, and cut flowers are distributed weekly at a central location on Clemson campus. Funds generated from the CSA go directly back into the project to support undergraduate and graduate student workers, and also to defray costs of seeds and farming supplies.

How is the Clemson U. CSA Unique?

-CSA’s direct marketing gives farmers and growers the fairest return on their products

-CSA keeps food dollars in the local community and contributes to the maintenance and establishment of local food production

-CSA encourages communication and cooperation among farmers

-CSA supports growing the highest quality, most nutritious food while preserving the highest environmental quality and soil health

-CSA creates a strong sense of social responsibility and stewardship of local land

-CSA puts “the farmers face on food” and increases the understanding of how, where, and by whom our food is grown

Commonly Asked Questions about Clemson U's CSA

How long will the 2008 CSA Program operate?

The 2008 program will run from May 7 through September 17, or 19 weeks. Members will pay for 16 weeks and have the option to choose 16 out of the total 19 pickup dates.

How many shares will be available? 

30-35 member shares will be available for the 2008 season

How much will I pay?

Members who join by March 25 will pay $350 for 16 weeks of produce and cut flowers. Provided space is available, members signing up later than March 25 will pay $400.

How much produce can I expect in a week?

The amount will vary with the season, but an average pickup will include a variety of seasonal produce that can feed a family of four for a good part of the week. Cut flowers and other items may also be included depending on availability.

When do I pick up my food, where is the pick up location?

The CSA pick-up is every Wednesday from 4:00 – 5:30 PM. Pick up location is the Student Organic Farm Learning Lab building with the green, V-shaped roof  (visible from Perimeter Rd) in the Clemson Bottoms. Directions: Turn off of Perimeter Rd. onto Old Stadium Rd. (next to the Administrative Services Building).  Go approximately ¼ mile and turn onto the first dirt road on your right and continue on that road, staying to the right and passing the aquaculture ponds on the left, until you reach the Learning Lab.

Can I get find out what crops will be harvested each week?

Yes, crop and variety availability will be posted on the farm website each week. From the
Clemson Sustainable Agriculture Program website (http://www.clemson.edu/sustainableag/) home page click the “Organic Market” button which will take you to the Market Programs
page. There you will find links to the CSA information.  A direct link to this page will be supplied with the confirmation of your CSA membership.

Will my share be ready for me to pick up when I arrive at the farm?

The produce will be laid out and amounts and weights of produce will be clearly marked for you to pick out. All shareholders must bring their own box, crate or bag to carry their share home in. 

What happens to my food if I forget to pick it up on Wednesday?

Special arrangements for pick-up are discouraged but we understand that sometimes circumstances may preclude Wednesday pickup. If you forget to pick up your box at the designated time you must contact farm manager Joe Bassett by email (jbasset@clemson.edu) BY 8:00 AM THURSDAY MORNING with a convenient contact number. He will contact you to arrange an appointment time to pick up your share that day. Appointments for late pickup will be made only on Thursdays, no other day of the week. If you forget to pick up your share and we don’t hear from you then your share will be donated to a community service group or the college café. Special arrangements for pick up are discouraged but we understand that sometimes things come up.

I am a student and I will be gone on orientation or field trips?

You can decide what happens to your share. Many people have friends pick it up and enjoy the bounty while you are out of town, or you could donate it. We will see that it goes to a community service group that provides meals to those in need.

I am ready to become a shareholder, what do I do now?

This is the easy part. All you have to do is click on the contract link, print and complete the contract (PDF HTML) form and return it with your check payable to Clemson University. Mail contract and check to: Kelly Gilkerson, Dept. of Entomology, Soils and Plant Science, B30 Long Hall, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634. You may also drop your payment off at the Entomology Soils and Plant Sciences Department in Long Hall in the mailbox of either Kelly Gilkerson or Geoff Zehnder. For questions please contact Kelly Gilkerson at kgilker@clemson.edu or 656-5057.