Community Supported Agriculture for Meat and Eggs

The document outlines the growth of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in the U.S., specifically focusing on the transition from produce-only shares to meat and egg 'buying clubs'. It highlights how these models support small-to-midsize farms through upfront community investment and risk-sharing. The text advocates for pasture-based livestock systems over confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), noting improvements in animal health and environmental impact. It also details the specific logistical challenges of meat CSAs, such as perishability and access to slaughter facilities, while providing case studies from Ohio, New York, and California.

• As of 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported more than 12,500 farms utilizing CSAs, with the National Center for Appropriate Technology estimating these programs serve over 270,000 households annually.
• Pasture-based livestock operations are presented as a 'smart' alternative that reduces pollution, improves animal health, and increases cost-efficiency compared to grain-based feed systems.
• The CSA business model provides farmers with essential early-season financial capital and shares the risk of crop or livestock losses with the community.
• Meat CSAs face unique operational hurdles compared to vegetable CSAs, including the high perishability of products, limited access to small-scale slaughtering and butchering facilities, and the need to market 'exotic' cuts to remain profitable.
• Case studies illustrate diverse implementations of the model, such as 2silos Farm in Ohio using biodiesel for transport, 8 o’Clock Ranch in New York shipping frozen meats via the Internet, and the Sonoma County Meat Buying Club in California partnering with a university extension to ensure rancher viability.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2009). Community Supported Agriculture for Meat and Eggs. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/csa-for-meat-eggs.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Community Supported Agriculture for Meat and Eggs. 2009. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/csa-for-meat-eggs.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Community Supported Agriculture for Meat and Eggs |date=February 2009 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/csa-for-meat-eggs.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2009community, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Community Supported Agriculture for Meat and Eggs}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2009}, month = feb, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/csa-for-meat-eggs.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }