Final report for FNE23-065
Project Information
This research project set out to explore how a collaborative, multi-farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program could improve food access in Buffalo, NY while supporting small-scale urban farmers. Buffalo faces deep food insecurity, especially among Black and low-income communities, while local farmers struggle with unstable markets and limited profitability. Led by Groundwork Market Garden and supported by the Greater Buffalo Urban Growers (GBUG), the project engaged six urban farms and three partner organizations. Together, we developed and piloted a 10-week CSA program that distributed 500 boxes — totaling over 2,300 pounds of food and 14,000+ servings — of fresh produce to underserved residents across the city. Despite challenges—including farm closures, loss of key collaborators, and logistical hurdles—the pilot demonstrated the viability and value of a multi-farm CSA model. Preliminary results suggest improved farmer collaboration, increased market access, and strong community interest in fresh, local food. Results were shared through the University of Buffalo Food Lab's extensive network of food systems professionals and students, as well as through Cornell Cooperative Extension's urban agriculture newsletter. The report was also sent to local farming groups. GMG also hosted presentations among participating and non-participating local farms and for the Food Policy Council of Buffalo and Erie County.
The project sought to measure the social, economic, and environmental impacts of creating and implementing a multi-farm CSA for both farmers and consumers. The project has collected data through a two year process of the planning and creation of a multi-farm CSA program in Buffalo, NY. Once completed, the specific questions the project sought to answer were:
- How has food access and affordability for city of Buffalo residents been impacted as a result of their participation in the multi-farm CSA?
- How has the quality of life and farm profitability for urban farmers been impacted as a result of their participation in the multi-farm CSA?
- Are participating farmers able to implement or expand regenerative/conservation practices on their farms while participating in the multi-farm CSA?
In addition to answering the above questions, the study has recorded all financials associated with creating and piloting a multi-farm CSA, and documented any secondary benefits, opportunities, and limitations that arose as a result of the project.
In a 2018 policy report for the Truth Commission on Poverty in Western New York, Partnership for the Public Good (PPG) collaborators found that over 13 percent of the population is food insecure, and over 20 percent of children are. The study also found:
- The 2016 poverty rate in Buffalo was 31.2 percent.
- The poverty rate for African-Americans was 32.3 percent while for whites it was only 8.9 percent.
- Deep poverty is even more concentrated in the city. Of households with incomes below $10,000, 48 percent live in Buffalo.
- People in poverty have much higher risks for many diseases, including a 50 percent higher risk of heart disease and 50 percent higher rate of type 2 diabetes.
- Buffalo’s African-American residents are six times more likely than whites to live in a neighborhood without access to a grocery store
These issues are compounded by a lack of policy and funding initiatives that support farmers and the regional food system. This is especially true for Buffalo’s urban farmers. Findings from a 2022 report from the WNY Regional Food System Initiative showed that a growing consolidation in agribusiness regionally has resulted in fewer but larger farms, processors, and retail/food service companies. This consolidation limits opportunity for small and mid-size businesses and entrepreneurs, both urban and rural. The study also highlighted that in the WNY region:
- Nearly half of all farmers report either zero profitability or highly variable profitability year-to-year. New, small and urban farms are least likely to be profitable
- Less than two in ten report being "very satisfied" with their current markets, while the balance are either not satisfied (25%) or generally satisfied but interested in new or better paying markets (60%)
- The most productive strategy for strengthening existing markets is to consolidate small markets competing for vendors and customers.
- Most small to midsize farmers lack the time or capacity to secure the capital they need to reach a viable scale of operations.
- Operations that are too small or where the farmer is unable to acquire land for expansion struggle with profitability.
These findings demonstrate that residents in Buffalo, NY experience high rates of poverty and food insecurity resulting in poor health outcomes, with impacts felt at far higher rates among the city's Black residents. The recent mass shooting that killed 10 innocent people at Tops grocery store in the underserved East side, further highlighted how a history of racist policies and inequity in Buffalo’s regional food system have resulted in longstanding food insecurity.
Given the high rate of food insecurity experienced by residents and challenges faced by urban farmers, the benefit for both groups that could result from collaboration among farmers and consolidation of their small markets in the region is potentially far-reaching. We proposed a 2 year project to document the socioeconomic and environmental impact of creating a multi-farm citywide Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in Buffalo. Under the leadership of Groundwork Market Garden (GMG), the project documented the process of establishing the multi-farm CSA throughout the first year planning period and pilot program in year two. Data was collected through surveys to ascertain the experiences of farmers before and after participation in the program. Surveys assessed profitability and quality of life for farmers. The project also documented all financial information associated with the creation and execution of a multi-farm CSA and any secondary benefits, impacts, or limitations that result during the project. The project had originally intended to collect survey data from city residents before and after their experience in the CSA program, but due to unforeseen challenges that resulted in a change in the CSA program, we did not work with the same group of residents weekly and therefore data collection was difficult and inconsistent.
Groundwork Market Garden (GMG) is an urban farm located on 2 acres in the city of Buffalo, NY. Owned and operated by Buffalo natives Mayda Pozantides and Anders Gunnersen since 2015, the farm is entering its tenth growing season in 2025. With over a decade of experience in organic vegetable production, Mayda has worked previously as a field hand, farm manager, and owner of a small farm operation before farming full-time with GMG. She currently holds a seat on the Food Policy Council of Buffalo and Erie County. Anders works full-time as Chief Financial Officer at Shared Mobility, Inc and part-time for the farm. He worked for 8 years with the USDA as a Plant Protection Technician and earned a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University at Buffalo. The farm employs two full-time skilled farm hands through the height of the growing season May-October.
GMG produces a variety of vegetables and some small fruit on about a half acre that grossed roughly over $100k through sales at area businesses and restaurants, a contract with Buffalo Public Schools, an on-site farm stand, and through a CSA program. The farm has grown steadily over the past 10 years, increasing CSA membership and improving profitability. In 2018, the farm was certified USDA Organic. GMG operates a no-till, permanent bed system, focusing on soil fertility and health and optimizing growing conditions for crops. The farm currently hosts a 20 week summer CSA program with 80 members, and started a small winter CSA in 2021 with 25 members.
GMG is also a member of the Greater Buffalo Urban Growers (GBUG), a network of and agriculture professionals and growers devoted to improving communication and awareness of best practices and requirements for people who grow and eat foods in Erie County.
Cooperators
- - Technical Advisor
Research
To assess the socioeconomic and environmental impacts for both city residents and urban farmers through the creation of a multi-farm CSA in Buffalo, NY, the project collected pre/post data through the use of surveys that will be implemented at the beginning of the second year ahead of the start of the pilot program and in year two after the completion of the first CSA season.
SURVEYS
Data was originally intended to be collected and assessed primarily through the use of two surveys, one for city residents and the other for urban farmers. Due to unforeseen circumstances that necessitated a shift in the plan for CSA distribution, data collection from CSA participants proved to be difficult. Surveys were distributed to both farmers that participate in the program and to those who did not, in order to compare the differences in data among the two groups over two years. Both surveys will contain roughly 50 questions and contain a mix of questions that assess participant attitudes and behaviors. Some questions will rate answers on a scale of 1-5 and others will collect long form answers.
By utilizing a 5 point scale, much of the data will be analyzed statistically, using a sequence of mathematical computations to compare treatments and evaluate whether the observed differences are truly a result of the change in practices, or if the differences may be due to chance and natural variation. Numerical values will be assessed to determine the mean, as well as standard deviation and standard error. Long form answers will be collected, analyzed for trends and reported upon with the findings. All analyses will be done with the assistance of our technical advisor and with peer-review.
The study will primarily make use of two surveys:
- Farmer Survey:
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- data collected assessed trends among urban farmers through a series of questions that include the following topics:
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- production practices
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- marketing practices (e.g., products sold, marketing outlets),
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- quality of life and work conditions
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- basic farm characteristics
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- Participant demographics including age, gender identity, race/ethnicity, household size and income, education, and zip code
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TREATMENTS:
Urban Growers (not participating in multi-farm CSA): All urban growers who are members of GBUG will be distributed our Farmer Survey to assess demographic, growing practices, and quality of life among the group in year one of the project.
Urban Growers (participating in multi-farm CSA): All urban growers who are members of GBUG and have participated in the implementation of the multi-farm CSA, will be distributed the same Farmer Survey assessment, after the completion of the CSA program in year two of the project.
FINANCIALS AND OBSERVATIONS
Through diligent record keeping, the study will record all financials associated with creating and piloting a multi-farm CSA which will track data including but not limited to:
- Labor hours
- Program expenses
- Income
- # of shares sold
- # of farm participants
- Crops produced & distributed
The project also documented, through notes and observation, any secondary benefits, opportunities, and limitations experienced by members and growers as a result of the project.
During the first year of the project, GMG met with farmers and food producers to assess their interest, and their ability to realistically participate, in the proposed project. An initial survey was conducted to get a better understanding of the participating farms, their practices, marketing strategies, and income for the previous growing season. In addition, we hosted four listening and learning sessions, with farmers participating in-person and virtually, to brainstorm different options for how to model the CSA program and how we all collectively wanted to address logistical concerns and profit sharing. After collecting this information, we worked to create a model that serves the needs of farmers and creates a profit sharing model that is fair and equitable, while reducing the administrative burdens associated with managing a CSA program.
The planning phase of our project led to collective learning and increased collaboration on the part of the participating farms. We did run into several challenges, both seen and unforeseen throughout the process. Four urban farms that had initially expressed interest in participating in the project, were forced to close in 2023 due to financial and personal circumstances. In addition, several participating farms expressed that their capacity would be limited due to decreased staffing capacity and other budgetary concerns.
Those realities, though initially discouraging, only further demonstrated the challenges that urban farmers face with regards to profitability and sustainability and the need for collaborative efforts to improve quality of life and financial outcomes for local, small scale producers. We discussed seeking additional funding to try to offset the potential risks associated with participating in a new marketing endeavor and be able to provide producers with a guaranteed profit. Additionally, we determined that starting smaller and still conducting our own CSA programs while building the collaborative model may be more realistic given the current financial and staffing capacities of participating farms.
GMG, with the participation of growers and non-growing collaborators in GBUG, planned for the launch of our pilot program in year two of our project. We collectively created and signed operational agreements, quality and packing standards, and signed participation agreements. We discussed and determined the number of shares, where and when they would be distributed and who would be responsible for each part of the operation.
Early in the second year, the project faced another setback when a member of GBUG suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. Not only was this person a beloved member of our farm & food justice community in Buffalo, she was also a major collaborator on this project. Her role was to connect us with a low income housing development, a community with which she was deeply tied to, which was to be the location where we signed-up residents and hosted our CSA distribution. With this connection lost, and the proximity to the upcoming season, we scrambled to adjust our plan and come up with a new one.
Despite this major blow, we were able to continue the launch of our program with some changes. We collaborated with another community organization who was able to assist with connection and distribution of shares to families that identified as low-income and or food insecure. Unlike our original plan however, the shares would not be distributed at the same place each week and the families were unable to pay for the shares. We were able to seek additional funding from a community organization to cover the cost of the shares and provide a stipend to our new collaborator.
For 10 weeks from July through September of 2024, GMG delivered 50 shares to various low-income housing projects and community events. The shares provided a weekly variety of crops from 6 participating farms, as well as a small packet of information containing a check list of what crops were included, food storage tips, and recipes. Throughout the length of the CSA program, data was collected on the following:
- labor hours
- program expenses
- income
- # of shares sold
- # of farm participants
- crops produced & distributed (type & amount)
- demographic information relating to both farmers and consumers
- production practices, marketing practices, and quality of life among participating farms
Because our shares were not distributed to the same families each week, it became difficult to collect data on the behaviors and attitudes related to food affordability and accessibility.
KEY FINDINGS
CSA Implementation
500 boxes distributed over 10 weeks (July–September 2024)
2,354 pounds of produce shared (average ~5 lbs/box)
14,236 servings provided (~28 servings per box)
Distribution sites included senior housing, public housing, and community events
Neighborhoods served: ZIP codes 14201, 14206, 14208, 14210, 14211, 14212
Pilot Program Costs
Food Purchase: $ 10,339.87
Materials/Supplies: $ 1,000.00
Labor: $ 5,000.00
Stipend- Delivery: $ 2,500.00
Stipend- Farmer: $ 5,000.00
Administration: $ 2,000.00
Program Total
$ 25,839.87
Farmer Survey
As part of the project evaluation, five participating farms responded to a survey that captured demographic, financial, environmental, and quality of life data. Here's a summary of key findings:
Who Responded:
-Farms ranged in size from under 0.5 acres to 3 acres
-Most farmers identified as women or people of color
-The majority of respondents relied on farming as their primary income source
Sales & CSA Participation:
-Gross farm sales ranged from $12,000 to $460,000
-The percentage of total farm sales attributed to the CSA was relatively low (~0.0073%–3%), indicating the CSA functioned as a supplemental income source
-Despite modest earnings from the CSA, all respondents indicated a strong likelihood to participate again, with 4 out of 5 rating their interest as “5” on a 5-point scale
Environmental Practices
2 of 5 farmers reported that participation in the CSA helped them improve or implement sustainable practices such as:
-Crop rotation
-Cover cropping
-Crop planning
Quality of Life & Job Satisfaction
-3 of 5 reported improved mental health, reduced stress, or greater job satisfaction
-Comments emphasized the emotional reward of serving community members and the value of being part of a collective initiative
Suggestions for Improvement
Farmers suggested:
-More streamlined produce collection logistics
-Mid-season check-ins and clearer communication
-Better integration of CSA into their overall sales strategy
Challenges
-Four farms initially interested in participating in the program closed during the planning phase due to financial/personal hardships
-A key community partner and collaborator on the project passed away suddenly in May 2024, forcing last-minute changes to the CSA distribution plan
-Inconsistent delivery locations made it difficult to collect pre/post consumer data
Opportunities
This pilot reinforced both the need and potential for cooperative CSA models in urban areas. Observations of trends throughout the project suggest the following opportunities & takeaways:
-Flexibility is essential when working with small farms under financial pressure.
-Collective planning and trust-building take time but yield significant benefits.
-Equity-focused marketing strategies, such as subsidized or free shares, can expand reach and social impact.
-Stable distribution points and longer-term commitments would improve data reliability and participant engagement in future iterations.
The CSA also helped highlight deeper structural challenges—like urban land insecurity, mobility & transportation deficits, and a lack of financial buffers—that need broader policy support to resolve.
This two-year study explored the viability and impact of a collaborative, multi-farm CSA model in Buffalo, NY. In response to intersecting issues of urban food insecurity and farm sustainability, the project successfully brought together six urban farms and three partner organizations to launch a 10-week pilot CSA. The program delivered 500 produce boxes—totaling over 2,300 pounds of food and 14,000+ servings—to households in Buffalo’s most underserved neighborhoods.
Despite some logistical challenges, the pilot demonstrated that collective marketing and shared operations can work for small urban farms. Farmers reported greater satisfaction, peer support, and knowledge of cooperative models. Some farms were also able to implement new sustainable practices. While some data collection goals proved difficult to achieve due to distribution logistics, the project met its core objectives and delivered meaningful community benefit. All participating farms and community organizations intend to continue participating in and expanding the program. We intend to expand on what we have learned through this study and use this to improve our outcomes over time. We hope to continue to serve as an example for how other small farmers can collaborate effectively.
A summary of project findings can also be found in this report.
Education & Outreach Activities and Participation Summary
Participation Summary:
Throughout the first year of the project, four listening and learning sessions were hosted at Groundwork Market Garden, to gather information, questions and concerns from farmers that may be interested in participating in a collaborative city-wide CSA program, and to share possible models and profit sharing options. Farmers also filled out basic surveys to get an understanding of their current farm offerings, profits, and interests in participating and to gauge their ability to grow quality produce.
GMG held 9 tabling sessions (3 per month) in February, March and April of 2024, to engage community members and educate them about our collaborative CSA offering and collect data on behaviors and attitudes regarding food accessibility and affordability.
After the pilot program concluded, on October 29 2024, GMG participated in a symposium entitled "Planning for Equitable Urban Agriculture
Opportunities, Challenges, and Possibilities [in Buffalo]" hosted by the University of Buffalo's Food Lab. GMG was able to present and share initial findings related to the project.
GMG created two educational tools (a report and a Infographic) that has been disseminated among a variety of channels, including through the University of Buffalo Food Lab's extensive network of food systems professionals and students, as well as through Cornell Cooperative Extension's urban agriculture newsletter. The report was also sent to local farming groups such as the Good Farmers Guild and to chapters of the Young Farmers Coalition in the Hudson valley. GMG also hosted a presentation among participating and non-participating local farms in GBUG and for the Food Policy Council of Buffalo and Erie County to share the final results in February 2025.
Learning Outcomes
In 2023, our network of urban farmers and food producers, which includes over 20 urban farms and 100 community gardens, attended a series of four listening sessions to learn about the potential benefits of participating in a collective CSA. In 2024, 6 farms and 3 community partner organizations participated in our Collaborative CSA pilot program.
As part of the project evaluation, five participating farms responded to a survey that captured demographic, financial, environmental, and quality of life data. Here's a summary of key findings:
Who Responded:
-Farms ranged in size from under 0.5 acres to 3 acres
-Most farmers identified as women or people of color
-The majority of respondents relied on farming as their primary income source
Sales & CSA Participation:
-Gross farm sales ranged from $12,000 to $460,000
-The percentage of total farm sales attributed to the CSA was relatively low (~0.0073%–3%), indicating the CSA functioned as a supplemental income source
-Despite modest earnings from the CSA, all respondents indicated a strong likelihood to participate again, with 4 out of 5 rating their interest as “5” on a 5-point scale
Environmental Practices
-2 of 5 farmers reported that participation in the CSA helped them improve or implement sustainable practices such as:
-Crop rotation
-Cover cropping
-Crop planning
Quality of Life & Job Satisfaction
-3 of 5 reported improved mental health, reduced stress, or greater job satisfaction
-Comments emphasized the emotional reward of serving community members and the value of being part of a collective initiative
Project Outcomes
As reported in previous sections, the program delivered 500 produce boxes—totaling over 2,300 pounds of food and 14,000+ servings—to households in Buffalo’s most underserved neighborhoods. Although data collection in the form of surveys from those receiving the CSA shares was difficult, we did receive positive feedback at participating sites, during distribution and afterwards. From one site, which is a municipal low-income senior housing complex, we received a thank you note that read,
"Hello! Thank you so much for the very generous donation of your wonderful produce! Every bit of it was given away and enjoyed!! Thank you so much for sharing your bounty! Sincerely, Mary Ann O'Dell & all the tenants at Seneca Cazenovia Apartments"
The pilot demonstrated that collective marketing and shared operations can work for small urban farms. Farmers reported greater satisfaction, peer support, and knowledge of cooperative models. Some farms were also able to implement new sustainable practices. While some data collection goals proved difficult to achieve due to distribution logistics, the project was able to meet its core objectives and deliver meaningful community benefit.
This pilot reinforced both the need and potential for cooperative CSA models in urban areas. Observations of trends throughout the project suggest the following opportunities & takeaways:
-Flexibility is essential when working with small farms under financial pressure. Having back-up plans for when farms aren't able to produce what they had intended and also finding funding to support the farms through the risks associated with changing their marketing models (through the form of stipends) is crucial to success.
-Collective planning and trust-building take time but yield significant benefits. Throughout the two year study, we learned a lot and also we still have much to learn. We are a group of farmers that already has years of experience collaborating, but when you are working together to build profit, it is a very different level of collaboration. Having the grant funding through this program to conduct the study took some of the financial pressure off of what would have otherwise been a large leap of faith for a lot of participating farmers. Making sure there is clear communication and lots of time to build trust will help other folks looking to build a multi-farm CSA
-Equity-focused marketing strategies, such as subsidized or free shares, can expand reach and social impact. When working with low income populations and farms that are financially struggling, it can be difficult to create programs that are accessible and affordable for consumers while also trying to increase profitability for farms. Investment from grants or other funding sources is needed in order to make it viable.
-Stable distribution points and longer-term commitments would improve data reliability and participant engagement in future iterations. This was really our greatest challenge with regards to the purposes of this study. In the future, we hope to place QR codes or data collection tools inside the bags and hope to get more insight on the impact of the food bags for consumers. A lot of the folks we worked with are low-income and seniors and may not have access or ability to provide feedback online.
The CSA also helped highlight deeper structural challenges—like urban land insecurity, mobility & transportation deficits, and a lack of financial buffers for small farms—that need broader policy support to resolve.