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Factors Affecting Current and Future CSA Participation

Author

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  • Michael Vassalos

    (Department of Agricultural Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA)

  • Zhifeng Gao

    (Food and Resource Economics Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

  • Lisha Zhang

    (Department of Agricultural Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA)

Abstract

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is one of the widely used direct marketing strategies for small- and midsized farmers. CSA programs are an important option for sustainable production and consumption. It helps growers generate income (improve financial security) and consumers obtain fresh local foods. Sustaining and growing CSA participation is critical in order to continue enjoying these benefits. We used a national online survey in conjunction with discrete choice models to investigate the impact of demographic characteristics, lifestyle preferences, and different information outlets on the probability that a consumer is or will become a CSA member. The results indicate that the factors affecting current and future CSA participation differ substantially. While none of the demographic characteristics has a significant impact on current CSA participation, some of them significantly affect the probability that a consumer will become a CSA member in the future. Lifestyle preferences have a significant impact on current and future CSA participation. Although none of the information outlets examined affect current CSA participation, word-of-mouth and online sources significantly influence the probability that a consumer will join a CSA program in the future. These findings may have important implications for policy makers’ and CSA farm managers’ efforts to sustain future CSA development.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Vassalos & Zhifeng Gao & Lisha Zhang, 2017. "Factors Affecting Current and Future CSA Participation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:3:p:478-:d:93722
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    2. Junhong Chen & Zhifeng Gao & Xuqi Chen & Lisha Zhang, 2019. "Factors Affecting the Dynamics of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Membership," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-13, August.
    3. Yahya Dabaghi & Shahla Choobchian & Hassan Sadighi & Hossein Azadi, 2022. "Consumers’ attitude toward participation in community-supported aquaculture: a case of Kurdistan province in the west of Iran," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 12(4), pages 870-889, December.
    4. Marie Diekmann & Ludwig Theuvsen, 2019. "Value structures determining community supported agriculture: insights from Germany," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 36(4), pages 733-746, December.
    5. 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.
    6. Jairus J. Rossi & Timothy A. Woods & James E. Allen, 2017. "Impacts of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Voucher Program on Food Lifestyle Behaviors: Evidence from an Employer-Sponsored Pilot Program," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-21, August.
    7. Giovanni Peira & Riccardo Beltramo & Maria Beatrice Pairotti & Alessandro Bonadonna, 2018. "Foodservice in a UNESCO Site: The Restaurateurs’ Perception on Communication and Promotion Tools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-17, August.

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