Browsing by Subject "CSA"

Aims: Community supported agriculture (CSA) belongs to the alternative food networks that have become more prevalent in recent years. Common features for CSA are local food, support for environmentally friendly agriculture and communality. The aim of this study is to clarify the effects of CSA on the everyday life of the members. The research questions are 1) how the membership of CSA and the weekly vegetable box affect the management of the household food economics and 2) how the membership of CSA does affect the everyday life management of households. The study was carried out among the members of the Herttoniemi Food Co-operative. This urban farm in an applied version of the CSA. The theoretical framework of this study consists of the concept of everyday life management of Liisa Haverinen (1996) and of the previous studies on CSA. Data and methods: This study is a qualitative study. The research data was collected by means of three focus group discussions. There were 16 Herttoniemi Food Co-operative members participating in total. The data was analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results and discussion: The results showed that the membership of the food co-operative has many kinds of effects on the everyday life. In cooking, the members tended to be more creative, open-minded and inventive. Cooking from scratch increased. The time used for cooking seemed to increase. The members used vegetables in greater quantity and with more versatility than before. The members' skills in vegetable processing and recognition developed. Further, the membership did improve knowledge of the food chain in general and members' food literacy. In families with children the membership had a special educational focus. Local food, also organic food in some families, and the knowledge of the origin of food seemed to improve satisfaction of life. The membership had increased the valuing of food generally. It appears that the membership of food co-operative has extensive effects on the members' everyday life. It seems that implementing one's own values in food supply will increase satisfaction in everyday life. The membership is likely to increase ethical reflection related to food choices.