community-supported agriculture: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-frequencyFormal/Technical
Quick answer
What does “community-supported agriculture” mean?
A system of farming where consumers purchase shares of a farm's harvest in advance, providing farmers with upfront capital and sharing in the risks and rewards of production.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A system of farming where consumers purchase shares of a farm's harvest in advance, providing farmers with upfront capital and sharing in the risks and rewards of production.
A socio-economic model of food production and distribution that directly connects local farmers with local consumers, fostering relationships, promoting sustainable farming practices, and increasing food security within a community.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term and the practice originated in and are most common in the US, but the concept is understood and used in the UK, often under the same name.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes ethical consumption, localism, and sustainability. In the US, it's strongly associated with counter-culture and organic movements. In the UK, it may be framed more within the 'box scheme' or local food movement context.
Frequency
Significantly more frequent in American English. In UK English, alternative terms like 'veg box scheme' or 'farm subscription' might be more common in everyday speech, though 'CSA' is the recognised technical term.
Grammar
How to Use “community-supported agriculture” in a Sentence
[Participant] joined a community-supported agriculture [programme].[Farm] operates on a community-supported agriculture [model].We get our vegetables through community-supported agriculture.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “community-supported agriculture” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The farm is community-supported.
- They community-support their local grower.
American English
- The farm is community-supported.
- We community-support our farmer.
adverb
British English
- The farm operates community-supportedly. (Rare/Non-Standard)
American English
- The farm operates community-supportedly. (Rare/Non-Standard)
adjective
British English
- They run a community-supported agriculture scheme.
- It's a community-supported model.
American English
- They run a community-supported agriculture program.
- It's a community-supported farm.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in business plans for sustainable agri-tech or local food startups.
Academic
Common in papers on sustainable development, food sovereignty, and alternative economic models.
Everyday
"We signed up for a CSA this year to get fresh veggies every week."
Technical
The CSA structure mitigates farmer financial risk by front-loading revenue prior to the growing season.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “community-supported agriculture”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “community-supported agriculture”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “community-supported agriculture”
- Using 'community-support agriculture' (missing '-ed').
- Treating it as a simple adjective-noun phrase rather than a fixed compound noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A farmers' market is a retail venue. CSA involves a pre-paid subscription or share, creating a direct financial relationship and shared risk with a specific farm.
It varies by farm and season, but typically a weekly or bi-weekly box of whatever produce is currently being harvested, which may include vegetables, fruit, herbs, eggs, or even meat.
A core principle of CSA is shared risk. Members accept that their share may be smaller in a bad season, supporting the farmer through the loss.
While many CSAs focus on organic or sustainable practices, it is not a requirement. The model is about the direct financial relationship, not a specific farming method.
A system of farming where consumers purchase shares of a farm's harvest in advance, providing farmers with upfront capital and sharing in the risks and rewards of production.
Community-supported agriculture is usually formal/technical in register.
Community-supported agriculture: in British English it is pronounced /kəˌmjuː.nə.ti səˌpɔː.tɪd ˈæɡ.rɪˌkʌl.tʃər/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˌmjuː.nə.t̬i səˌpɔːr.t̬ɪd ˈæɡ.rɪˌkʌl.tʃɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to have skin in the game (through a CSA share)”
- “to eat with the seasons (a principle of CSA)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
COMMUnity SUPPorts Agriculture: Imagine a COMMUNity of people who SUPPort local Agriculture by paying upfront.
Conceptual Metaphor
FARMING IS A COMMUNITY INVESTMENT (where consumers are shareholders in the farm's success).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary economic benefit of community-supported agriculture for the farmer?