Introduction
For more than 20 years FairShare has built a base of informed and active eaters through community
education on the social, environmental, and economic benefits of locally grown, organic food and ongoing support of direct market farms. FairShare currently endorses 50 CSA farms from throughout
Southern and Central Wisconsin. Our farms provide over 9,000 shares to more than 22,000 individuals
and families. We work together to share information and resources, collaborate for group promotion
and grower training and work to strengthen our local food system through the promotion of CSA.
Why we interview
The interview is an integral part of getting to know you as a farmer and your farm operation. If you are
accepted as a FairShare endorsed farm you will be representing FairShare and the CSA growers in our
community, it is essential that a high standard of quality both for products and customer service be
maintained throughout the coalition. FairShare’s Farm Endorsement Committee talks with all potential
FairShare farms to assess if they are able to take on the responsibility of operating a high-quality CSA,
grow according to our organic policy (organic certification for fruit and vegetable crops and use
sustainable and humane animal husbandry practices) and are interested in being collaborators with
other farmers for the benefit of all farmers and eaters.
Possible outcomes of interview:
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Acceptance – Your farm will be formally endorsed by FairShare beginning January 1, 2014
Deferral – FairShare believes your farm is compatible with our goals and mission, but we would
like you to gain additional experience and address areas of concern before we formally endorse
you. FairShare will work with you to address the areas of concern and we encourage you to
reapply for endorsement next year. FairShare will communicate with you about mentorship
opportunities and encourages you to take advantages of resource-sharing opportunities of the
coalition.
Rejection – Your farm is not compatible with FairShare's goals and we cannot endorse you unless
you make major changes on your farm. If you make these major changes to your farm you are
encouraged to begin the application process again next year.
Interview Process:
The interview will be based on questions asked in the New Farmer application form. The committee
will follow up on responses given in the farm application, ask for clarification of answers provided and
allow for elaboration on methods of production, farm plans, member communication and other CSA
operation details. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions about FairShare.
NOTE: On the application you were asked to include a copy of your current CSA brochure, two
CSA newsletters from 2013, and a blank CSA member survey from 2013. If you did not include these
documents in your application, please bring them if possible to your interview. If you think there are
other materials which will help the committee to assess your application, you may bring them as well.