Our response to the Guardian article ‘It’s my self-care tip of the year: I quit our local veg box scheme..’
Date Published: 23rd September 2026
You may have seen the Guardian article 16th September 2027: ‘It’s my self-care tip of the year: I quit our local veg box scheme, and set my mind free’. While we are still waiting a response from the Guardian, we wanted to share our response to this letter.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms are providing vital food security, environmental benefits and stronger communities.
The comments come following a recent letter in The Guardian about vegetable box schemes and not having time and enthusiasm to make the most of seasonal produce. “Being a member felt like the right thing to do – and it was a boon during the pandemic. But oh, the emotional labour. I can never look at a turnip again”…
CSA farms and other veg-box schemes have evolved to meet members’ needs, with many offering flexible box contents, produce swaps, recipes and online ordering systems.
“With the current fuel prices, conflicts around the world, rising food prices and the fact that the government is suggesting people stockpile to prepare for future emergencies and food shortages, it is very likely we will all soon start to again appreciate and line-up to receive our local veg box as happened during the pandemic.” Amy Luck, Policy Manager, CSA Network.
If the only downfall of supporting your local veg-box scheme or CSA and receiving fresh, pesticide free, nature friendly food each week is having to think of different ways to cook a pumpkin, the benefits are innumerable and far outweigh that. According to the Food Foundation we currently import 80% of our fruit and 47% of our veg and the worsening climate and nature crisis globally means this reliance on imports poses a growing threat to our food and nutrition security.
Research carried out by the CSA Network UK found strong social and wellbeing benefits among members. In a survey of more than 250 CSA customers 82% said that their involvement with their CSA has improved their overall quality of life, 79% said that their involvement with their CSA has improved their cooking or eating habits and the majority said that their involvement with their CSA also improved their mental and physical health, had a positive impact on the broader community in their area and encouraged their family to eat more vegetables. Despite all of these impacts and benefits, the majority of UK CSA farms don’t receive any government support or funding as they are too small to meet the criteria. Only ⅓ of recently surveyed CSAs in England received Defra payments.
The CSA Network represents 200+ CSA farms in the UK, the majority of which grow and provide vegetables and others also produce meat, eggs, honey, flowers and herbs. The CSAs, some set up and run by the community and others set up by a grower/farmer or group of growers working alongside the community, are all unique. They connect local people directly with growers and farmers. The benefit to the farmer is that members or customers sign up for the produce or a weekly ‘share’ in advance. Giving the farmer security, cash and customer loyalty. CSAs produce and sell what is in season and abundant at the time, farming to organic principles, or at the least supporting and farming alongside nature, supporting biodiversity, soil health and reducing waste. The benefit to the member or customer and the local community is that their local CSA farm is providing all of the environmental benefits mentioned above whilst also offering an open space for communities to volunteer, learn and visit, many offer training and many offer opportunities for people who wouldn’t necessarily be able to access farmland or green spaces easily.
To find and support your local CSA, get in touch with the Network or check out our CSA map.