Community supported agriculture in Romania: Is it driven by economy or solidarity?
Brînduşa Bîrhală, Judith Möllers, Bîrhală, Brînduşa, Möllers, Judith
AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA)
Urban Farm DB summary
This study investigated Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Romania, focusing on costs and benefits for both farmers and consumers in three pioneering CSA groups offering organic vegetables to contracted consumers in the western part of the country. It found that consumers are typically urban dwellers with higher education and income, prioritizing organic-quality fresh products over solidarity, which is a value aspired by the initiating NGO. Farmers' main motivation for CSA involvement is the need for a stable market with fair prices, indicating that both parties use CSA to compensate for market failures.