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Dear friends and supporters,

Happy Summer Solstice. In a busy time for growing and with so much going on in the world we hope you find a moment to slow down, breathe and connect with the land. We also hope you are surviving this heat, wherever you are.

Since our last general update in the Spring we've been busy. Firstly, by getting together as staff and board members to discuss community supported agriculture (CSA) in this challenging time and how best to support the movement moving forward across the UK (read more here). We have hosted another CSA meet up in Northern Ireland and won new funding to further our community engagement work in Leeds, increasing accessibility of CSA food and farms. We are also working hard as part of the UK Fruit & Veg Coalition to get a better deal for our farms.

We are excited to share with you our upcoming CSA training course, storytelling workshops, the Agroecology tent at Groundswell next week and sponsoring the Organic Growers Gathering later this year. 

Thank you for being part of this movement.
The CSA Network UK Team
Community Farm get together in Northern Ireland
Our Northern Ireland community farming gathering took place in May at Jubilee Farm in Larne, hosted in partnership between the Landworkers' Alliance NI and the CSA Network — and what a day it was!

We were delighted to welcome over 20 people and the highlight for many was getting to meet some new faces. CSAs are still few and far between in Northern Ireland, which makes occasions like this all the more important. 

If you're in Northern Ireland and in the early stages of setting up a CSA, please do get in touch with Jo at Laurelbank Farm who is the CSA Network board based in NI.
Read more here
Find us at Groundswell
For the first time at Groundswell Festival, we are part of a group of organisations who are coming together to host a dedicated Agroecology Tent. The aim of the tent is to open up discussions about the social justice and political aspects of our food and farming system which are often overlooked in mainstream narratives about the agricultural transition. Find us in Stalls A53-A55. 

We will also be part of a session 2nd July 11am in The Workshop on Regenerative Retail: Reclaim Value with Direct Sales.
Read more about our session here
An overview of how CSA farms are getting on this year 
Every year we run an annual survey to keep track of how our CSA farm members are doing and to collect data to continue advocating for CSA in the UK.

Many CSAs experienced drought or extreme heat last year, resulting in loss or damage to crops. Some CSAs had issues with high winds and flooding. As a result, these resilient CSA farms are adapting and investing in new systems.

Only 1/3 of the CSAs will apply for government funding (SFI) the other 2/3 are ineligible. We continue to campaign on this funding being available for all CSA farms regardless of land size. Despite this, 90% offer activities to support their community and 80% actively support food access through subsidised shares or food donations. There is also very high life and job satisfaction and a sense of what they do being worthwhile. 

These results show just how resilient CSAs are to function with little government support and funding yet still offering opportunities and huge benefits within their communities. 
Read the full overview here
New projects being sown and grown..
Friendly Farms is a new National Lottery funded project linked to our Your Farm Your Community work providing outdoor activities at Kirkstall Valley Farm and Swillington Organic Farm. The activities will start this August and will boost wellbeing through engagement with nature; support the farms’ sustainability, productivity and accessibility; encourage sharing knowledge about growing and food; wellbeing and arts activities will bring people together. 

And in Wales our Development Coordinator Eva has been hard at work connecting with growers and gathering data to help our Welsh network thrive. Some of what she has been doing:
  • We are creating a strategic plan and a new CSA handbook jam packed with useful info and Welsh specific schemes and funding opportunities. 
  • We have started new peer-to-peer support groups on key subjects of interest for our members.
  • We are also working towards funding some taster sessions and training days for existing farmers across Wales, with the hope of drumming up some interest in the model with livestock and dairy farmers. 
    Read all about it and get in contact with Eva here.
More here
Thinking of setting up a CSA?
Grow Your Own CSA Course
“Definitely recommended, there is a real sense of a community of people trying to help each other, the presentation is accessible and welcoming and great for giving a sense of possibilities.”

“I would recommend the course as a good way to become informed, to make connections and understand how it all works.” Just some of the comments from the 2025 participants of Grow Your Own CSA course. 

Join the 2026 cohort lead by Tom O'Kane with expert guest speakers. Starting this September 28th until 14th December running across 12 Monday evenings online.
Training session: Getting local and regional media coverage 
We are partnering with the Local Storytelling Exchange to deliver training to our CSA member farms on how to tell their story, boost local awareness, catch the attention of local decision-makers, and ensure that as many people as possible in their communities hear about their amazing work. The first session will be in October, with more info and how to sign up available soon to our members. 

If you want to join this and other events exclusive to our CSA farm members, you can join us as a member or supporter from just £25 a year and support our work.
More info
How can we influence policy?
We are advising on the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan.
Alongside other members of the UK Fruit and Vegetable CoalitionUK Fruit and Vegetable Coalition (UKFVC) we are advising on the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan to get a better deal for our farms, which is being delivered by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra). See more about the plan in this Sustain article.

Sustainable Farming Incentive and Capital Grants payments open from next week.
In case you want to apply or see if your farm or local CSA or market garden could benefit, we have written a short guide on SFI and Capital Grants which open 30th June and in July. We recommend registering with the RPA and making sure your details are up to date asap!
Defra are running a webinar tomorrow 25th June 14:00 on SFI for those who apply and those new to the scheme.

Say No to GM
A High Court legal challenge led by Beyond GM has found government failed to understand the significant consequences of removing transparency and labelling for gene-edited crops and foods. Please consider supporting by writing to your MP and sharing the press release through your networks.

Tell Sainsbury's to ban Paraquat
We’re joining PANUK calling on the UK’s second largest supermarket, Sainsbury’s, to end the use of paraquat in its global supply chains. You can find out more and share their social media campaign here.

More housing for landworkers!
We support the LWA in calling for a set of amendments to England’s National Planning Policy Framework to support low-impact housing for landworkers. You can help by using their template letter to write to England’s Secretary of State for Housing.
An interesting read... 
We were in the Big Issue last week talking about the real work that goes in to growing healthy, fresh food that supports farmers and the land. To grow cheap vegetables… “you are having to use large scale agricultural practices that are not supporting the soil and ecosystems and biodiversity, and you’re exploiting workers. Ultimately somebody is not getting paid well to produce that food.” Read it here.

A men's health group at Cae Felin CSA made the news 'Planting helps break down barriers' to 'boost mental health and wellbeing'.

The Broken Plate 2026 report from The Food Foundation shows healthier food remains nearly twice as expensive per calorie as less healthy food, and the gap is widening. An estimated 204km2 – an area larger than Glasgow – was deforested in 2023 to produce agricultural products linked to the UK economy.

This new report from Sustain suggests voucher schemes and mobile greengrocers can connect local organic growers to low-income communities and keep money circulating locally, leading to more resilient, stronger communities.‘We need a new way to shop!’ 

Building Food Security in Belfast. This video explores how local organic growers are helping to build food security in Belfast through short, resilient supply chains. Featuring interviews with Ben Vista CSA Market Garden and Helen’s Bay Organics, we hear firsthand how small-scale producers are strengthening communities, supporting sustainability, and reconnecting people with where their food comes from.

New Agricology podcast 'Agroecology Around Arran‘ explores how farmers and growers on a small Scottish island work with the land, livestock and each other to build a thriving and resilient local food system, preserve the island’s cultural heritage and celebrate its natural resources.
The CSA Network UK is generously funded by:
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Southam Road, Radford Semele
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
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United Kingdom
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