A north side Madison urban farm will end its community supported agriculture (CSA) program due to logistical and financial unsustainability, according to The Capital Times. Troy Farm, which has grown certified organic vegetables since 2001, is operated by the Rooted organization, which runs programs centered on food access, community education, and small-scale grower collaborations.
According to Rooted staff, the cost of CSA maintenance, in addition to obstacles to obtaining grant funding and the dynamic nature of CSA, has made it unsustainable. In 2023, the CSA had 176 paying members and 38 worker shares, but it wasn’t enough. The CSA is estimated to serve around 400 people and account for 80–90% of the farm’s work. Seasonal hires supporting the program will be scaled back, and with the end of the CSA comes half an acre of land freed up for other uses.
The organization is planning for a community engagement process that will look at new ways the farm can serve Madison residents seeking fresh food.
