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From organic food to support for local agriculture!
This is one of the success stories of the year. AMAP (Association Pour le Maintien dúne Agriculture Paysanne), France's
equivalent of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), enables members to eat seasonal fruit and vegetables by buying part of
a farmer's production in advance.
equivalent of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), enables members to eat seasonal fruit and vegetables by buying part of
a farmer's production in advance.
The first French Community Supported Agriculture group, AMAP, began in the
South of France in 2001. ATTAC (or the Association for the Taxation of
Financial Transactions to Aid Citizens) was then at the height of its
popularity, and it looked as if a citizens' movement might just manage to
change the rules of world trade and inspire an economic policy more
respectful of mankind and the environment. The effects, as we all know,
were lukewarm. Ironically, the small-scale CSAs, put together on the
sidelines, came up with the formula that hit the mark some years later. There
was no need for big speeches, just a support system where everybody shared
responsibilities and rewards: the food buyer who no longer wanted to be
caught in the consumer traps set by supermarkets, and the market gardener
who wanted to find an alternative to a risky system whose price variations
were always detrimental.
The idea is simple: a group of consumers pay in advance for a weekly basket
of fruit and vegetables over a period of six months to a year, while accepting
the risk of a drop (or increase) in production. The produce is guaranteed to
be grown without synthetic products, but is not necessarily "organic", in the
strictest sense of the term. In between the fruit and vegetables, buyers may
sometimes find little "extras" like eggs, cheese and meat. The cost of a
basket is about 15 euros and includes all charges, notably the farmer's
payment.
What we talking about here is actual cost and, thus, true value, in fact, the
idea of CSA began in Japan 30 years ago, its called "teikei" which means
'putting the farmer's name on food'. Introduced into the United States at the
turn of this century, the phenomenon mushroomed in France's
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, leaping from 17 to 45 CSAs in less than
five years, and then spread Rhône-Alpes, Aquitaine, Alsace and
Midi-Pyrénées.
South of France in 2001. ATTAC (or the Association for the Taxation of
Financial Transactions to Aid Citizens) was then at the height of its
popularity, and it looked as if a citizens' movement might just manage to
change the rules of world trade and inspire an economic policy more
respectful of mankind and the environment. The effects, as we all know,
were lukewarm. Ironically, the small-scale CSAs, put together on the
sidelines, came up with the formula that hit the mark some years later. There
was no need for big speeches, just a support system where everybody shared
responsibilities and rewards: the food buyer who no longer wanted to be
caught in the consumer traps set by supermarkets, and the market gardener
who wanted to find an alternative to a risky system whose price variations
were always detrimental.
The idea is simple: a group of consumers pay in advance for a weekly basket
of fruit and vegetables over a period of six months to a year, while accepting
the risk of a drop (or increase) in production. The produce is guaranteed to
be grown without synthetic products, but is not necessarily "organic", in the
strictest sense of the term. In between the fruit and vegetables, buyers may
sometimes find little "extras" like eggs, cheese and meat. The cost of a
basket is about 15 euros and includes all charges, notably the farmer's
payment.
What we talking about here is actual cost and, thus, true value, in fact, the
idea of CSA began in Japan 30 years ago, its called "teikei" which means
'putting the farmer's name on food'. Introduced into the United States at the
turn of this century, the phenomenon mushroomed in France's
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, leaping from 17 to 45 CSAs in less than
five years, and then spread Rhône-Alpes, Aquitaine, Alsace and
Midi-Pyrénées.
Today, about 100,000 consumers are involved in the movement: urban residents, with above average education and skills,
are rediscovering the countryside-soil at the bottom of their crates and vegetables all in different sizes.
The only drawback is the need to go and fetch one's basket once a week and make the best of an (over)abundant supply of
vegetables in certain seasons, such as cabbage and Swiss chard in winter, or courgettes and cucumbers in summer. People
thus have to adapt to what they find in their baskets, look for new recipes, learn how to cook again. Is this another form of
rural creativity?
Membership conditions differ according to where you live. With other consumers and a producer, you may also set up your
own CSA, by following the network guidelines.
All the French CSAs are listed on the website: http://alliancepec.free.fr/Webamap/index1.php
Organic Produce Delivery in Budapest: EBIO Kertészet, Biotransport Kft
are rediscovering the countryside-soil at the bottom of their crates and vegetables all in different sizes.
The only drawback is the need to go and fetch one's basket once a week and make the best of an (over)abundant supply of
vegetables in certain seasons, such as cabbage and Swiss chard in winter, or courgettes and cucumbers in summer. People
thus have to adapt to what they find in their baskets, look for new recipes, learn how to cook again. Is this another form of
rural creativity?
Membership conditions differ according to where you live. With other consumers and a producer, you may also set up your
own CSA, by following the network guidelines.
All the French CSAs are listed on the website: http://alliancepec.free.fr/Webamap/index1.php
Organic Produce Delivery in Budapest: EBIO Kertészet, Biotransport Kft
