"Community Supported Agriculture is a relatively new trend in agricultural production. As mid-sized farms are bought out by large-scale producers, the number of family farms is declining." To learn more about this trend see articles on the Virginia Cooperative Extension website:  http://www.ext.vt.edu/

Here is an excerpt from another informative paper that can be found on the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website:
Why Go Local?
Buying and eating locally grown foods – foods that are produced near you or in Virginia offer numerous
benefits for you and your community. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs: Help fund a farm! Buy a membership in a local farm, and receive weekly boxes of freshly picked fruits, vegetables, and/or herbs. There are more than 25 CSA programs throughout Virginia. Each one offers different packages and varieties of food. To find one , go to http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/vagrown/csa.shtml