COMMON FORMS OF COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS
Researched and written by Morag Gamble August 2003

1. Food box systems

Food box systems provide members with a weekly box of seasonal vegetables and fruit, plus other locally produced food such as honey, preserves, bread, eggs and dairy products. The most common and easiest system to manage is the standard box system which offers a mix of season produce. Many people appreciate this as it helps them to understand the local growing cycle, to eat in season and also try some unusual foods and varieties. When there is a glut of one particular food or unusual items, the box system manager often includes interesting recipes. It is possible to order different sized boxes depending on household size.

Some larger and more complex groups offer an ordering service whereby the consumer can choose types of foods and quantities they prefer. This is a more consumer-oriented approach, whereas the standard box system is more farmer-oriented - consumers accepting what the farmer can produce. The ordering system is preferred by some as it overcomes the unpredictability of meal planning that arises with the standard box system. It also avoids wastage of food when items arrive that no-one in the household likes. Generally orders are placed for the following week when the box arrives. Some groups now offer internet ordering.

Box systems support and encourage farmers to become more chemical free and polycultural. To generate the diversity required to meet consumer needs, often products are sourced from a number of local farmers. Food box systems can be coordinated by an individual, a cooperative, or a farmer. The boxes are distributed weekly either directly to members or to a distribution node. Members can also arrange a roster to pick up the boxes directly from the farmer. This is one of the simplest community food systems to establish.

2. Subscription farms

Subscription farms are also commonly known as CSA (community supported agriculture) systems. Members of subscription farm systems sign up for a season (or a year) and pay up-front for that period. Each week a box is delivered to the subscribers either directly or to a distribution node.

The core difference between this and the food box systems described above is that the consumers pay up front for at least season and also share the financial responsibility of the crop's success or failure. In this system the farmer has a stable income and a guaranteed market for the crops. There is also reduced administration, marketing and packaging required. Some subscription farms have open days to allow members to see how the food is grown, to meet the farmers and to discuss food preferences for next season. Since essentially members have a share in the crops, the process of deciding what to grow is more participatory.

Other subscription farms develop eco-agricultural tourism facilities to enable members (and non-members) to holiday at the farm either as a working holiday or simply to relax in a rural environment. Members can attend or organise educational workshops at the farm, and programs for schools are common. Members can be called in to help on the farm at busy periods and in emergencies. Some offer discounts on the subscription fees in exchange for labour inputs.

The economic commitment by members generates greater levels of commitment and responsibility for the success of the crop. This system does require a high level of communication, commitment, cooperation and involvement from both producer and consumer, and if a crop fails it is the loss is shared by all. Such losses can be overcome by having funds set aside (perhaps from the sale of excess produce to non-members) to buy produce from other farms.

3. Community food cooperatives

Community food cooperatives can take many forms - cooperative farms, producer cooperatives, consumer cooperatives and cooperative shops. Community food systems cooperatives are operated according to the 7 international principles of cooperatives.

3.1 Cooperative farms:
a local community cooperative buys a farm and farms/manages together, sharing the produce equitably in relation to member input of money or labour. The cooperative may also choose to employ a farm manager and farm labourers, and use member labour at busy times to reduce costs.

3.2 Producer cooperatives:
local farmers form a cooperative to bulk purchase inputs they require and to coordinate the marketing and distribution of their produce. In a community food systems this is usually to an urban cooperatives, box systems, farmers markets or local organic restaurants.

3.3 Consumer cooperatives:
in the simplest form of consumer cooperatives, urban consumers work together to source and bulk-buy local chemical-free produce. Members take turns each week in collecting the produce and take turns for several months at being the organiser. At collection times, members come to the organisers house, or a common meeting point to share out the food together. Many groups use this as an opportunity to have shared community meal and discussion forum.

3.4 Cooperative shops:
cooperative shops are owned and operated by a local community to meet local community need of fresh healthy food. Many cooperative shops include other items such as natural medicines, natural cleaning agents and locally made soaps, books, seeds and seedlings. The cooperative sources organic foods from the region and sells to members while also being open to the public discount prices are offered to members who have bought shares and contributed to the capital needed to organise and maintain the cooperative. Further discounts are available to those who offer labour inputs. When profits are generated, they are circulated back into community. Some cooperatives aim not to make a profit beyond that needed for the cooperative development fund in order to keep the prices of the local organic food affordable. These shops become important community meeting places, display community notices and arrange educational events and farm tours.

4. Farmers markets

Fresh food from the local region is sold directly from farmers to the consumers. Farmers markets focus on fresh produce, but also include cheeses, herbs, honey, breads, eggs, meat, preserves and other value added products. Some include local arts and crafts and natural fibre clothing. At the markets, farmers meet the people who eat their food and gain direct feedback. Consumers meet the people who grow their food and are able to find out more about it. This connection gives deeper meaning and satisfaction to both.

Farmers markets become social events - a weekly gathering of the community - including live music, street theatre, community and environmental stalls and street cafes. Some cities close central streets for this event, others have dedicated areas. The more centrally located the better. Organic farmers markets are generally held once a week, although sometimes more often. Consumer preference is for more frequent markets however it is difficult for small farmers to manage more than one day a week at the market. To overcome this limitation some farmers have formed cooperatives to share the market time, but this reduces the directness of the connections which make farmers markets so valuable.

Farmers markets are one of the most popular forms of community food systems. There is a market renaissance happening around the world with a focus on establishing new organic markets and revitalising old markets that have existed continuously for hundreds of years but no longer sell local or chemical free produce.

5. Community gardens, allotment gardens and city farms

In this community food systems the consumers are the producers. These systems bring food production much closer to home and actively engage urban neighbourhoods in the production of food. It is not often that all food needs are able to be met in these gardens, but a large proportion of fruits and fresh greens, herbs and vegetables needs are produced. Other forms of community food systems are regularly linked with, or organised from, these projects to supplement food needs. Many city farms and community gardens play important community and environmental education roles. The awareness raised by these groups supports the establishment of other regional community food systems.

In all of these systems, members of a local neighbourhood work together to create food gardens in public spaces - parkland, schools, railway easements and other vacant or open space. These gardens are best located in and around towns and cities, away from main vehicle thoroughfares but with easy pedestrian, bicycle and public transport access.

Most systems are initiated by the community in response to an identified need. Others are started and supported by local municipalities as a community health or community development initiative. Food scraps from the members homes and neighbourhood are processed in community composting and worm farming systems to be used as soil and natural fertiliser in the gardens. Below is a brief description of each:

5.1 Shared community gardens:
the community garden is maintained collectively by group and produce is shared equitable among members. Resources and funds required are sourced together.

5.2 Allotments:
the community garden is divided into allotments which are each maintained separately and for which a nominal rent is paid. The individual members (or groups of friends) harvest and consume the produce they grow themselves. Trading often occurs between the allotment gardeners. In many European countries small cabins are constructed for weekend stays. Composting and orchards are usually managed together in shared spaces.

5.3 City farms:
When animals are included in these community gardening systems they are generally known as city farms. City farms are also more focussed on education and demonstration of sustainable urban living and are therefore found in highly visible locations. The elements generally found in city farms are: community managed gardens, allotment gardens, demonstration gardens, education programs, schools programs, plant nurseries, community seed banks and plant material exchange networks, animals Ñ chickens, ducks, geese, sheep goats, cows, horses, community recycling centres, shared tools, community composting, community food forests/orchards, community wood lots, picnic areas and/or community cafŽ, community festivals and markets, and playgrounds. City farms provide a focal point, meeting place for local neighbourhoods. They often occupy larger areas than community gardens and hence members generally work together cooperatively achieving more than they could by working alone. This also provides opportunities for sharing skills and experience. The social and educational aspect of city farms is what attracts most people to them. City farms have also provided contact with animals and a 'rural' environment for inner city children that have never before had such an experience. The integrated nature of city farms enables them to become platforms for positive change within a neighbourhood.

5.4 Weekend/holiday farms:
this system is becoming increasingly popular in Asian cities where most people live in apartments and access to land is not available in the centre of the city, or is too polluted and contaminated. Farmers in close proximity to the city rent small plots of land to urban residents. Members come on the weekend to farm, relax and socialise with other gardeners. During the week the farmer waters the plots and prepares seedlings for the gardeners to plant to following week. The farmer also provides storage for tools, meeting and eating areas, educational workshops and school visits. In Hong Kong, the added income generated by this system has enabled small organic farmers to survive.

6. Land trusts

A farm near an urban area is held in trust by a charitable organisation established and managed by local community members. The land is leased to members or others from the region for variety of sustainable agriculture and related businesses (fruits, vegetables, herbs, livestock, forestry, teaching, crafts, dairy, etc). Some are land leases, others are activity leases. Usually 10% of net profit is retuned to the land trust's maintenance fund or a revolving loan fund for the development of new leases.

Land trusts provides easier access to land for small businesses wishing to establish themselves and further reduces cost through the sharing of marketing and administration. The collective nature of the group of enterprises makes it a more interesting, vibrant and viable venture than all working alone. It also facilitates the integration of activities where the waste from one becomes the inputs for another. The aim is for the whole project to operate like an ecological system.

Land trusts are able to protect and maintain agricultural land in growing urban areas.

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