11/21/2024 2:38:38 AM	SUAG 153 Course Outline as of Summer 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  SUAG 153	Title:  CSA
Full Title:  Community Supported Agriculture
Last Reviewed:2/8/2021

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	2.00	Lecture Scheduled	1.50		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	26.25
Minimum	2.00	Lab Scheduled	1.50		4 min.	Lab Scheduled	26.25
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  52.50

Total Student Learning Hours: 105.00

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  SUSAG 153

Catalog Description:

This course will address aspects of crop management, production, and marketing as it relates to the development and operations of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm model. Students will gain hands-on experience through direct participation in crop production, harvesting, and packing at Shone Farm. This course will also prepare students for the California Food Handlers Exam.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course will address aspects of crop management, production, and marketing as it relates to the development and operations of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm model. Students will gain hands-on experience through direct participation in crop production, harvesting, and packing at Shone Farm. This course will also prepare students for the California Food Handlers Exam.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Analyze the CSA model for operational efficiency.

2. Demonstrate understanding of harvesting, packaging, and storage methods appropriate to in-season crops.

3. Identify and analyze potential markets in the community.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Compare and contrast different operational and marketing models of Community Supported

    Agriculture.

2. Identify field management techniques necessary to bring a crop to full production.

3. Build and strengthen skills in harvesting, packaging, and postharvest techniques of in-season

    crops.

4. Demonstrate final harvest methods of in-season crops.

5. Discuss various crop rotation and planning needs for seasonal progression of crops.

6. Generate content for and discuss the utility of a customer newsletter for farms.

Topics and Scope

I. Overview of CSA

    A. History of CSA

    B. Shone Farm CSA

    C. CSA models

II. Regulatory Requirements of a CSA

    A. Food Safety requirements

    B. County and State permitting requirements

III. CSA Infrastructure

     A. Packhouse design

    B. Box storage and delivery options

    C. Pricing and billing structures

IV. Review of Processes Necessary to Bring CSA Crop to Necessary Production Levels

    A. Supplies and equipment necessary for CSA operations

    B. Seasonal planning considerations to meet CSA crop demand

    C. Weekly planning and forecasting

     D. Overview of seasonal crop rotation procedures appropriate to the CSA model

V. Demonstration of Various Crop Harvesting Techniques

    A. Crop specific harvest methods

    B. Appropriate use of specific harvesting tools

VI. Demonstration of Various Crop Postharvest and Packing Techniques

    A. Crop specific postharvest requirements

    B. Crop specific preparation and packing requirements

VII. Maintaining Customer Relations

    A. Weekly newsletters

    B. On-farm events and/or promotions

VIII. Review of the Overall Effectiveness of the CSA Operation

    A. Crop production      

     B. Postharvet handling practices

    C. Marketing

    D. Financial viability

 

Concepts presented in lecture are applied and practiced in lab.

Assignments:

Lecture Related Assignments:

1. Food Handlers Card application exercises

2. Develop a CSA model plan

3. Quizzes (5 - 10)

4. One midterm and 1 final

 

Lab Related Assignments:

1. Weekly harvest, postharvest handling, packing skills activities and demonstrations

2. Weekly lab activity journals

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 25 - 35%
Weekly lab activity journals, CSA model plan
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 25%
Food Handlers Card application exercises
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 20 - 35%
Harvest, postharvest handling, packing skills activities and demonstrations
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 40%
Quizzes, midterm and final
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Instructor prepared materials

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