So when the University of Florida professor found out last year about a new program the university was launching that would bring fresh produce straight from local farms to campus, he signed up right away.
“The carbon footprint of things you get from a lot of stores that purchase things from California or Canada or Argentina is so much higher than if you buy it locally here in Gainesville,” Davis said. “It makes me feel better that I'm doing my part in decreasing my carbon footprint.”
Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is a program that allows people to get a regular supply of fresh produce from local farms. Consumers become members by paying for a share of the farm's yield at the beginning of the season, providing the farmer with income to buy seeds and to cover the costs of growing the produce. Every week, the farmer harvests a weekly allotment, which is picked up by the member.
Gator CSA, which is run by the UF Office of Sustainability, provides a place for farmers and their members to meet and pick up produce. Now in its second year, Gator CSA has two on-campus pick-up locations and four farms participating with about 200 members total.
“We started Gator CSA in an effort to provide the community with better access to local produce,” said Anna Prizzia, director for the Office of Sustainability. “We're facilitating that relationship.”