As great as CSA's are, they require a sophisticated farmer to pull off---I've had a CSA farm and it is the most complex type of farming.  So feeding lots of people with the CSA model requires either a lot of small farmers who have some experience under their belt or a few big CSA farmers who can handle the volume.  There aren't enough small ones and I don't like the eggs-in-one-basket idea of just a few.

 Right now there isn't any product from mid-sized farmers, so how do we address that?  

The issue is how to convince those mid-sized folks that it is worth the risk.  They are not going to get bank funding (operating loans or capital loans) for these new crops until there is a local history and a guaranteed local market.  They are not going to experiment until one of their neighbors takes the plunge.  They are very unlikely to even look at new crops when other crops, like wheat or corn or alfalfa hay or whatever the current crop de jour is), are or appear to be very lucrative and very much in demand.

So we find a pool of money that could be used as a revolving fund  in which the farmer can access operating capital for these new crops---then the farmer pays it back into the fund.  Or the pool of money is raised annually like a CSA and the estimated payment goes totally to the farmer and the risk is shared by everyone.  There is a whole bunch of risk here, so there may need to be a pool of funds to cover the possible loss.  

Seems unlikely that restaurants or institutions would have a big pile of money they would be able to throw out in February for a product that may or may not be delivered several months later.  But, if you could get a sizable consumer buying group who would have to take delivery of bulk product in addition to the restaurants and institutions, you might have access to more money.

  Certainly all we're doing is putting the pieces of providing food together in a new way, so there's plenty of expertise on contracts, insurance, CSA models, etc.

The key concept is that we have to provide a less risky mechanism for farmers to even consider growing large quantities of food for their communities.  

As a resident of the state of Iowa and a CSA supporter, I know that this form of local agriculture is wonderful and starting to gain momentum.  With that being said, it is still too expensive for the many our residents.  I am not sure what can be about this but to make this a more easily attained by the masses... cost needs to be addressed. Perhaps the  use of food stamps or income based payment scale.

But yes, CSA's in Iowa are amazing and we/I am lucky to have easy access to them.  Front door delivery in fact.

Good Article!

Our CSA farmer reports he has sold out his shares in Northern Virginia, Bull Run Vegetable Farm. We still spread the word to get our friends and neighbors to join other CSAs in the area. We also "preach" about visiting the local farmers market on Saturdays. Thanks for the great article and recipe.