Community Supported Agriculture: How Do Maryland Operators Manage Legal Risks?

Abstract

Maryland is situated between two large urban areas with a number of consumers demanding access to fresh foods. To meet this demand, many Maryland producers have started community supported agriculture (CSA) options with their businesses. These CSAs provide fresh fruit, vegetables, and sometimes meats and eggs to subscribers over the growing season. But CSAs do come with risks. This article highlights joint efforts by the Maryland Department of Agriculture and University of Maryland to educate producers on the need to utilize written contracts with their CSAs and other practices to manage legal risk in their operations.