One of the greatest pleasures of eating local organic produce comes from knowing that it is grown by farmers who have made conscious choices about cultivating their land in environmentally and socially responsible ways. Produce grown in such ways is also more flavorful and more healthful than industrially-grown produce. Participating in such a mode of food production and consumption also fosters closer relationships among us, the foods we eat and those who grow it. Welcome to the Tucson CSA.
Unlike a typical CSA which is traditionally based at a farm, the Tucson CSA is a community initiative that was started in January 2004 by Philippe Waterinckx and a handful of other University of Arizona graduate students. Its goal is to provide a direct connection between local producers and consumers.
In the Southwestern US, farms are often located far from urban centers, making then not easily accessible to consumers. The Tucson CSA acts as an extension of the farm into the city, providing a space where local producers and consumers can connect. We work with a number of local sustainable producers who offer produce, goat cheese, grass-fed meats, eggs, honey and more. We are staffed by volunteers and we work very much like a buying club. We welcome all who want to participate in a healthier and more sustainable food system. We do not sell retail, only through membership.
At the Tucson CSA, you always know where your food comes from, who produces it and how. You know that is naturally grown or humanely raised, with no chemical pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilizers, hormones or antibiotics. And you know that neither people nor the environment are being abused in the course of its production.
