Robyn Van En (1947 – January 1997) was an American
organic farmer
Organic farming, also known as ecological farming or biological farming,Labelling, article 30 o''Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and re ...
and pioneer of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) movement.
Community Supported Agriculture
Robyn Van En was one of the originators of
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), a business model that helps small, diverse organic farms cope with the expenses of organic farming methods by selling "shares" of the harvest to CSA members before the farming seasons begins. This prevents the farmer from needing to borrow money to cover costs at the beginning of the season, and promotes community support for the farmer, as CSA members share in the risk of farming by paying up front and receiving farm produce throughout the season. Van En started the first CSA in the United States on her Indian Line Farm in Massachusetts. Later, she helped create more than 200 other CSA farms as she travelled across the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, proselytizing fresh, local, organic produce. She also travelled abroad to Russia, Canada, South America, Africa, New Zealand, Russia, and Hungary, leading to more than 1,200 active CSAs.
Robyn Van En Biography. ''Wilson College''
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Memorials
Robyn Van En Center for CSA Resources
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Quotes
"With access to a farm, many are dazzled by the bounty and wonders of nature. I love to see grown people awed by the delicate beauty of a carrot seedling." ~Robyn Van En
See also
Eating For Your Community
by Robyn Van En
Sharing the Harvest: A Citizen's Guide to Community Supported Agriculture
by Robyn Van En and Elizabeth Henderson
References
External links
Robyn Van En Center for CSA ResourcesCommunity Alliance with Family FarmersThe Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Web Site
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1948 births
1997 deaths
20th-century American businesspeople
Farmers from Massachusetts
Organic farmers