How is CSA different from co-ops?
A cooperative is usually a group of people who get together to pool their purchasing power or other resources, to provide themselves with products or services. The co-op members therefore own and operate their venture. In CSA, the farmer usually maintains an independent business, while members share limited risk (the results of the harvest), for a limited period (generally, a year at a time). Some CSA farms do operate as co-ops, with members actually investing in the land, setting budgets, and participating in the day-to-day operations, but this is not the usual CSA model. Small farm co-ops also exist, where farmers get together to share costs or pool product. Farm co-ops can be great for improving efficiency and consumer convenience, but they also add a middleman layer that is not present in the direct farmer-member CSA relationship.
