Completed Project Report


Increasing Producer Profits through Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs)

  • Award Amount: $39,884
  • Regional Center: North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2010 Value Added Enterprises/Farm Diversification Grants

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Project Overview

Consumer interest in where our food comes from, how it is grown and handled, as well as the desire to support local farms and producers contributed to increased interest from producers in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) enterprises in Ohio. This project aimed to facilitate farm diversification and increase producer profits by developing innovative decision support tools for CSA producers. Through a producer-designed workshop, it specifically addressed differences in markets, CSA models, as well as what communication skills and marketing strategies are necessary for success. Participants gained information from recent consumer research surveys, workshop materials, one-on-one consultations, online resources, fact sheets and documented experiences of existing CSAs. While participants gained knowledge in all areas assessed, the greatest increase in participant knowledge occurred in the areas of marketing, distribution, and customer management.

Number of Participants: 35

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

There are no promotional materials available for this project.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

There are no educational materials available for this project.

REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.

DELIVERY AREA

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INDIVIDUAL STORIES / EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS / QUOTES