A 40% increase in the available supply of organic food baskets

Equiterre launches its 2004 season of Community Supported Agriculture
Montreal, March 19, 2004

The 2004 season of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, coordinated by Équiterre, is launched. 21 organic farmers joined the CSA network this year, bringing the number of participating farms up to 69. This represents a 40% growth rate compared to last year's figures. Now citizens in fourteen different regions all over Quebec, will have access to shares of this year's harvest through 190 different delivery points, providing 12,000 people with local organic meat, fruits and vegetables.

Several factors can explain such a substantial increase in farmers' membership to the CSA network. Firstly, it is important to recognize the dramatic transformation that the agricultural industry has undergone over the past few decades due to the rapid evolution in industrialization. During this period, the number of farms across the continent has significantly dropped due to consolidation of land by larger farming corporations. In 1981, there were 48,000 farms in the province of Quebec and by the year 2001, there were only 32,000 left. This loss of 16,000 enterprises was mostly suffered by small farms.

Another factor responsible for the growth of the CSA network stems from the development of public awareness. More and more people are becoming conscious of the positive impacts that organic farming has on the environment, personal health and on the vitality of the local economy. This knowledge fuels their desire to become involved in an alternative food production structure thus strengthening the ties between urban citizens and local farmers. "Furthermore, in the past 3 years, Equiterre has invested a great deal of effort in order to make the CSA practices known in various Quebecois agricultural circles; but more importantly, citizens are responding to alternatives and are looking to contribute towards greater solidarity", explains Isabelle Joncas, coordinator of CSA network.

Among the twenty-one farms that joined the network, 10 are owned by young entrepreneurs who are just starting out in the field. According to Stephane Bergeron, new family farmer from Jardin Biologique Floralia, "The CSA method is a fair and ecological solution that responds to the needs of consumers as well as those of farmers. The strong links established between the citizens and the farmers allow for a constructive relationship that would be otherwise unthinkable in the current market structure".

Equiterre is hereby inviting the citizen population to support family farmers by purchasing a harvest share this spring from a participating CSA network farm. It is in this context, that Equiterre is proud to reveal the 2004 CSA farm list and delivery locations. This document may be consulted on Equiterre's website or ordered by phone at (514) 522-2000. Media are invited to review the virtual press package.

Since 1996, Equiterre has been coordinating the CSA network. When citizens purchase a harvest share at the beginning of each season, they are directly supporting a Quebecois certified organic farm.

Equiterre (from the French words equity and the earth), a non-profit organization, is dedicated to promoting ecological, socially fair choices through action, education and research from a standpoint that embraces social justice, economic solidarity and the defence of the environment.

Source:
Nadine Bachand,
Media Relations
(514) 522-2000, poste 226 or (514) 774-5220