AMAP
- 5 déc. 2015
- 3 min de lecture
What?
Did you ever heard about AMAP?
AMAP, what do this letters stand for ? Actually an AMAP (or CSA) is like a store, more precisely like a VIP store. A store where you can be surprise once a week, a store where the boss is always available to answer to your questions, to take into account your remarks. But this store is also an human experience. An AMAP is an association for the preservation of peasant agriculture.
Why?
The AMAP organization was very developed this last few years. Indeed, it enables demand an offer to meet directly without intermediary. Thus customer can directly meet producer usually once a week. All type of food commodity can be concerned by the original exchange, but vegetables and fruits are the most developed products. Nonetheless you can also find meat, eggs, cheese etc... The organization is separated between 2 main seasons, spring/summer and autumn/winter.
The originality of this initiative relies on the fact that it is no longer the market which settles the exchange. The customer accept to have only seasonal product from "not so far away", the quality is the heart of this exchange. No more standardization. All of what is produced will be consumed. This organization also brings more recognition to farm work and fight against food waste, indeed usually 60% of the harvest is not bought by the industrials.
This process is a win-win one ! Indeed, you will pay your product almost the same price as in a store. However the gustatory qualities of your food will be incomparable. Grown under the charter of peasant agriculture and the specifications of organic farming, your producers agree to provide you a basket with nutritional qualities way better. In exchange, you, as a customer, you accept to pay in advance the further basket you will receive all along the season to insure producer's revenue.
Do not worry, in the signed contract the producer will commit himself as far as the basket contents is concerned. The engagement will so come from the both parts, each of you will share the benefits and the risks of this experience, that's why you will also commit yourself into a human experience.
Where?
If you are looking for an AMAP, a a look at:
in France: http://reseau-amap.org/recherche-amap.php
in the US: http://www.wilson.edu/robyn-van-en-center
Currently, the distribution of the basket will take place wherever it is conclude between you and the producer. It could be a municipal instead, the farm...
For who?
This new way of consumption is really open and as we said previously, the goal is to make it accessible to everyone. The price should not be a brake and for example it is possible to pay in several installments. The customer could also help during the distribution to reduce his own costs. Each situation could be consider case by case between the producer and the customer, to enable the letter to join the AMAP adventure!
For you and us, the customers, joining this experience will allow us to participate on our own scale to support local production, to have fresh and varied seasonal products for a very affordable cost, to meet new people during each distributions, to share a way of life or simply receipts. You will recover some forgotten vegetables so you may need the experience of others to cook it the best way. It is also a interesting experience for children because usually you are invited each season on the farm, to see how you food is grown, how you should take care of it... Moreover, you provide a real social valuation to your producer, who will be pleased to hear any of your recommendations. Listen and be listened, hear could be the moto of such an organization.
Ecologic interest?
Think global, act local ! Simply consider that your product didn't take any plane from Venezuela, any lorry from spain...
The way of product are farming also respect the environment and charters you can consult here:
Negative points :
- Share the benefits but also the risks related to climate hazards
- Engage your selfelf to be present at a precise moment and hour to recover your basket
- No choice of products (but possibility to arrange without custommer according the personal tastes)
- Economic engagement for one entire season
Positive points :
- Consume local and seasonal products with a hight traceability, taste and nutritional quality : really good value for money
- Support the local activity
- Meet new people and share point of view
- Efficiency : one basket already organize, no loss of time in the supermarket, no endless queue
- Escape the over-consumer society
- [endif]Human experience
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