Farmers’ and Consumers’ Beliefs About Community-Supported Agriculture in Australia: A Qualitative Study

This study aimed to examine the level of knowledge about community-supported agriculture (CSA) (a form of direct marketing of produce) and perceived benefits and barriers among farmers and consumers. Twenty consumers and 12 farmers in Victoria, Australia, were interviewed. Knowledge of CSA was limited. For consumers, one potential benefit of involvement with CSA was the food being fresh, while barriers included lack of produce choice. For farmers, one potential benefit was financial, while barriers included concerns about risk-sharing. If CSA is to develop further in Australia, the concept needs to be more heavily promoted to raise the population’s awareness.