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Community-Supported Agriculture Marketing Performance: Results from Pilot Market Channel Assessments in Colorado

Author

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  • Becca B. R. Jablonski

    (Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA)

  • Martha Sullins

    (Colorado State University Extension, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA)

  • Dawn Thilmany McFadden

    (Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA)

Abstract

Due in large part to rising consumer interest, the number of farmers and ranchers selling through local food markets is growing. Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is a unique local food channel adopted by producers that was initially established as a strategy for producers to directly benefit from the season-long investments of buyers who align with their community-focused mission. Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture has long collected data to improve farm performance, information on specific marketing channels is missing, and in response, this research provides some of the first evidence of the heterogeneity of performance among CSAs. In a pilot approach to understanding the economics of CSAs relative to other direct marketing channels, we conducted an assessment process, incorporating 42 farms in Colorado between June 2016 and October 2017. Results showed that farms that incorporated CSA sales in their direct market portfolios tended to be smaller in scale and utilize more diverse markets. Although these CSA farms have lower average weekly sales, they have the highest average marketing profit margins compared to other direct market channels.

Suggested Citation

  • Becca B. R. Jablonski & Martha Sullins & Dawn Thilmany McFadden, 2019. "Community-Supported Agriculture Marketing Performance: Results from Pilot Market Channel Assessments in Colorado," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:10:p:2950-:d:233877
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Nicole Didero & Marco Costanigro & Becca B. R. Jablonski, 2021. "Promoting farmers market via information nudges and coupons: A randomized control trial," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(3), pages 531-549, July.
    2. Pierre Chiaverina & Sophie Drogué & Florence Jacquet & Larry Lev & Robert King, 2023. "Does short food supply chain participation improve farm economic performance? A meta‐analysis," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 54(3), pages 400-413, May.
    3. Izabela Kwil & Katarzyna Piwowar-Sulej & Małgorzata Krzywonos, 2020. "Local Entrepreneurship in the Context of Food Production: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-21, January.
    4. Martinez, Steve W. & Park, Timothy, 2021. "Marketing Practices and Financial Performance of Local Food Producers: A Comparison of Beginning and Experienced Farmers," USDA Miscellaneous 313069, United States Department of Agriculture.
    5. Bauman, Allison & Jablonski, Becca B. R. & Key, Nigel D. & Hadrich, Joleen C., 2022. "Land tenure and profitability outcomes for U.S. beginning farmers and ranchers," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322233, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    6. Punnaros Pisarn & Man-Keun Kim & Shang-Ho Yang, 2020. "A Potential Sustainable Pathway for Community-Supported Agriculture in Taiwan: The Consumer Perspective in a Farmers’ Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-18, October.
    7. Becca B.R. Jablonski & Allison Bauman & Dawn Thilmany, 2021. "Local Food Market Orientation and Labor Intensity," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(3), pages 916-934, September.
    8. Jablonski, Becca B. R. & Bauman, Allison & Yeh, Adeline, 2023. "Conducting Economic Research on Local and Regional Food System," 2023 Annual Meeting, July 23-25, Washington D.C. 335986, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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