Knowledge Bank

This study examines the feasibility and strategic development of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program for the Ohio State University Student Farm. This research investigated the CSA operational models of four university-based farms and one private farm via qualitative interviews, while simultaneously assessing campus market demand through a broad sampling of 109 individuals from the campus community. The analysis identified three critical success factors: diversified financial structures that balance institutional support with earned revenue to ensure consistent labor, intentional community engagement, and formal risk-mitigation strategies. Survey results and market analysis indicated that faculty and staff are the optimal target demographic, with the strongest demand for weekly summer shares priced at $40 and high interest in staple crops like carrots and broccoli. Drawing from this synthesis, we recommend a pilot program with conservative initial scaling, summer-focused operations, and robust community programming to position the CSA as a campus engagement hub. This study contributes to the literature on sustainable food systems by demonstrating how student-farm CSAs can balance financial viability with pedagogical goals to function as university-integrated learning platforms while providing locally grown produce to the campus community.