Such a pattern of findings is consistent with a story that although the focus of the CG system on tropical and subtropical wheat and maize varieties has limited its impact on China productivity as a whole, it has played a role in increasing technology in poor areas, a chronic weakness of China’s research system.Our results for the TFP equation, presented in Table 4, also generally perform well.The goodness of fit measures range from 0.80 to 0.85, quite high for determinants of TFP equations.In other work, in India for example, the fit of the specification was only 0.17.The signs of most of the coefficients also are as expected and many of the standard errors are relatively low.For example, the coefficients of the weather indices are negative and significant in the TFP equations in the rice, wheat, and maize specifications.Flood and drought events, as expected, push down TFP measures, since they often adversely affect output but not inputs.Perhaps the most robust and important finding of our analysis is that technology has a large and positive influence on TFP.The finding holds over all crops, and all measures of technology.The positive and highly significant coefficients on both measures of the rate of varietal turnover show that as new technology is adopted by farmers it increases TFP.Following from this, the positive contributions of China’s research system and the presence of CG material both imply that domestic investments in agricultural R & D and ties with the international agricultural research system have contributed to a healthy agricultural sector.Further analysis is conducted to attempt overcome one possible shortcoming of using VT as a measure of technological change.As varieties age, the yield potential may deteriorate.We add a variable measuring the average age of the varieties to isolate the age effect from the new technology effect.Although we find no apparent negative age impact on TFP in any of the equations,hydroponic nft channel in a number of the regressions, the coefficient ofVT variable in the TFP equation actually rises, a finding that reinforces the basic message of the importance of technology.The role of extension is less simple.

The impact of extension can occur through its effect on spreading new seed technologies and through its provision of other services enhancing farmer productivity.The positive and significant coefficients on the extension variable in all of the VT technology equations for all crops demonstrate the importance of extension in facilitating farmer adoption.Extension, however, plays less of an independent role in increasing the yield potential of varieties that have been adopted by farmers, perhaps an unsurprising result given the reforms that have shifted the extension from an advisory body to one that is supporting itself, often through the sale of seed.In recent years, both growers and consumers have become increasingly interested in direct marketing as an alternative to conventional marketing outlets.Further, as more consumers develop an appreciation for fresh food produced close to home, they’re turning to farmers markets and other direct markets that offer not only locally grown food, but a connection with those who grow it.In the search for alternatives to the current food system, Community Supported Agriculture offers an increasingly popular option.In the CSA arrangement, consumers get much of their weekly produce by picking up a box of organic, fresh-picked fruits and vegetables grown on a farm in their community.A farmer commits to growing food for a group of people , and the people support the farmer by paying for their shares of produce ahead of time, often at the beginning of the season.CSA members thus ideally share both the risks and the bounty of farming.Although community supported agriculture farms have only been operating in the U.S.since the mid 1980s, there are now between 800 and 1,000 CSAs in the United States.As CSAs have proliferated in this country and elsewhere, CSA and sustainable agriculture advocates have professed a number of hopes and dreams for this approach to farming and marketing.Many see CSA as a vehicle for increasing small farm viability and for encouraging the use of ecologically sound farming practices.CSAs have also been promoted as a way to connect people to their food and each other by building personal relationships between farmers and consumers, as well as by educating people about the food system and its issues.

In 2001, the social issues staff of the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at UC Santa Cruz initiated a study of California central coast CSAs, Research Brief #1 covering Monterey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties.This research aims to: 1) describe how the CSA model has been implemented on the central coast, 2) determine the extent to which CSAs on California’s central coast are manifesting the hopes that people hold for them, and 3) identify constraints and opportunities to reaching these ideals.The project was designed to contribute to the small number of studies focusing on CSAs in California, and to provide information to people interested in understanding, supporting, or furthering CSAs.This research brief focuses on one aspect of the CSA study: the profiles and experiences of CSA members.Member attitudes, experiences and perceptions are summarized, and then used to explore the extent to which CSAs are meeting the ideals that many hold for them and to identify some opportunities and challenges that they face in meeting these goals.The survey asked members to write in their most important reasons for joining the CSA.As shown in table 1, the most frequently reported “important reasons” members expressed were to purchase organic3 , fresh produce.The members also wanted to buy local produce or support “local”.When focus group members were asked why they wanted to “support local,” several themes were mentioned.Some people felt that local farms benefit the community in some way, such as by adding jobs, green space, and diversity.Other reasons mentioned include that local farms allow for connection—to the farmers, other people, the land, or farming itself.Finally, others think that supporting local is more ecological, in that less resources are used shipping the food to distant outlets, and having a farm nearby allows people to make sure their farmer is actually using ecological farming methods.Considering that several of the primary reasons given for becoming a CSA member could also be met by going to the farmers market, focus group members were asked what they receive by participating in a CSA rather than by shopping at a farmers market.Although not everyone participated in a CSA to the exclusion of farmers markets, there were still themes regarding their preference.Convenience was frequently mentioned by focus group members—that CSA is less work than going to the farmers market.Some preferred CSA because it allowed them direct contact to a farm, which, as one member said, is “…much different than going to a farmers market and just seeing the produce on the table—you see…the whole process.” Others mentioned that it helped support eating habits that they wanted to have.These responses show some of the unique aspects of CSA, and offer insights for promoting this new aspect of the food system.One goal of this study was to see how people’s habits around shopping and cooking changed as a result of joining a CSA.We assumed that CSA membership would create another task for people; in addition to picking up their weekly share, they would still have to go to the store for food that the CSA did not supply as well as process the food.

Interestingly, we found that half of the respondents’ households reported that they spent less time obtaining food after becoming members than they did before joining.Based on our conversations with CSA members, it is possible that they actually spend more time, but that it ‘feels’ like less.On the other hand, most people reported that they spent more time preparing food than they did before, since CSA produce is usually minimally processed.Participating in a CSA appears to decrease the amount of time spent on some food-related household tasks while increasing the time spent on others.Changes in eating habits was another area we explored.Survey results show that 81% said that they had some type of eating habit change; 79% of the 221 noted that they eat more vegetables or eat a greater variety of vegetables.This finding is encouraging since eating more fruits and vegetables, including a wider variety, has been suggested as a sound way to address and prevent health problems.The next most frequently cited eating habit changes are behaviors related to better health.Shareholders noted that they are eating healthier , eating at home more and out less,nft growing system and eating better quality food.Focus group participants partially explained this phenomena.The CSA structure helped to support these types of eating habits: for example, some people felt compelled to eat the produce that they had already paid for, and others just couldn’t stand throwing vegetables away.We also wanted to identify what people learned from their experiences with the CSA farm, and how their lives changed.We asked members if there have been any other changes in their own or their household’s life since participating in CSAs.The most frequent responses were that people cook differently.This includes people who say they now plan their meals around the vegetables, cook more creatively, enjoy cooking more, and use different recipes/try new things.As one woman said, “I usually plan a week’s menu in advance of going shopping.With CSA I planned the menu around the CSA produce, e.g., ate more stuffed chard and cabbage, fruit desserts, etc.” Some members also noted that they now have a connection with the farm or the farmers , that they are more aware of agricultural or environmental issues , and that they are more active regarding agricultural issues.These effects—learning more about the food system, and doing something to improve it—are changes that some CSA advocates hope will take place as a result of CSA membership.Although the numbers are low, CSA participation does appear to lead to an increased awareness of food system and environmental issues.In addition to exploring why members may leave, we also looked at factors that are related to returning to the CSA.

Respondents appeared more likely to re-join when they were satisfied with the quality, quantity, and product mix of the produce; when picking up the box was convenient; and when people felt the share price was fair.Also, members were more likely to return the next year if the payment schedule did not pose a financial hardship, and they were not throwing away or composting more produce than before they joined the CSA.One interesting finding is that those who said they or their household experienced a change as a result of participating in a CSA were also more likely to rejoin.For example, 82% of households that experienced a change in eating habits would sign on again, whereas 65% of those without such a change were not likely to rejoin.It appears that learning to incorporate or adapt to the new way of eating and cooking helps increase the likelihood of staying with the CSA, as well as encouraging desirable/valuable lifestyle changes.The CSA member survey and focus group findings reveal both positive results and future challenges for those running CSAs or growers who are considering starting a CSA.On the positive side, CSA farms have succeeded in producing high quality produce, have helped people develop healthier eating habits, appear to have addressed some ecological issues , and have connected some people back to their food source.Conversely, the data point to several challenges, particularly regarding long-term CSA viability.Addressing the issue of choice appears to be a persistent dilemma.Most people leave the CSA due to lack of choice, yet the idea of “receiving what is available when it is available” is an integral part of the CSA concept.Therefore, turnover is likely to always be an issue, and thus finding new members will continually be required.Some people look at the small number of members currently participating in CSA and see a huge untapped market.However, there are also several indicators that point to obstacles to CSA growth.The limited demographics of people participating, the availability of organic food from other sources , a culture based on convenience and choice, and having to spend more time preparing food and eating what is seasonally available could limit the number of potential members available for both current and future CSAs.Ultimately, it appears that while CSA is not a quick answer to problems in the food system, it definitely offers a needed alternative.Providing fresh, local, and organically grown produce; a connection to where food is grown; and education about agricultural and environmental issues are important and necessary services for those seeking options in today’s food system.