Local solidarity-based partnerships between farmers and the people they feed are, in essence, a
member-farmer cooperative, whoever initiates it and whatever legal form it takes.
There is no fixed way of organising these partnerships, it is
a framework to inspire communities to work together with their local farmers, provide mutual benefits and reconnect people to the land where their food is grown.
The emergence of Teikei in Japan, Community Supported Agriculture in USA and UK, Association pour le Maintien de l’Agriculture Paysanne in France, Agriculture Soutenue par la Communauté in Canada/Québec, Voedselteams in Belgium and of many, many other initiatives shows
how consumers and farmers in various places are responding to the same global pressures. This supports the development of organic family-run farms and local fair food systems.
By establishing direct, trusting relationships between farmers and consumers, people have access to fresh, healthy, nutritious food, at a fair price. They also act to foster ecologically sensitive farming and reduce food miles.