A CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and arose from the idea that the community around a farm supports the farm. They help by buying a share of the harvest early in the year when the farmer needs it most.

A farmer has to invest a lot in seed, starts, equipment, labor, and more months before a single harvest is ready. That is a lot of uncertainty and risk. The community decides to become a part of the farm by becoming shareholders for the year. They provide the essential needs to get the farm year started, while receiving their share of the harvest when crops start to mature.