Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Social Farm

Social farms operate community supported agriculture (CSA) or market farms providing job training and employment for individuals facing barriers (formerly incarcerated, refugees, at-risk youth, people with disabilities) while growing organic produce for community members.

With local food movement growing and employment barriers affecting millions, social farms generate revenue of $200,000-$650,000+ through CSA memberships, farmers markets, and wholesale, while providing agricultural job training.

The farm requires farmland (owned, leased, or partnered), farm equipment and infrastructure, agricultural expertise, workforce development programming, and CSA customer management.

Revenue comes from CSA subscriptions ($400-$800 per share), farmers market sales, wholesale to restaurants and grocers, and workforce development grants.

Success factors include viable farm business plan and agricultural productivity, comprehensive job training in sustainable farming, supportive employment practices and trauma-informed supervision, CSA member engagement and retention, and measuring employment outcomes for trainees.

Most successful social farms combine CSA or market farming with training programs, with revenue from food sales covering 60-80% of budget and grants supporting training costs.

The farm creates agricultural employment pathways while serving local food movement.

Many farms focus on specific trainee populations (reentry, refugees, youth) and partner with corrections or social services.

CSA members support both local food and social mission.

With local food thriving and agricultural employment opportunities scarce in 2025, social farm enterprises offer dual-mission opportunities for farmer-activists building sustainable farms providing agricultural job training and pathways to rural employment while growing healthy food for local communities.