This is the last name of the Baratzan Blai project. But what exactly do they mean when we talk about Community Sustained Agriculture, in English CSA, Community Support Agriculture? “This is basically a form of collaboration between farmers and consumers that shares risks and benefits,” the presentation of the project points out. Areta summarizes this: “Our idea is to change the relationship between consumers and producers, to make these relationships more collaborative, because eating healthy foods is a matter for everyone, not just for farmers. The problem is that we take many risks, for example, to have a bad harvest.” Consumers who join the project thus pay an annual fee, making a greater commitment to the farmer and allowing for annual planning.

In Pamplona, Areta distributes vegetable baskets every two weeks, reaching a total of twenty households. However, the annual quota is not the same for everyone: the price adapts to their choice and capacity, always within a minimum. “We believe that organic and healthy proximity products should be within everyone’s reach, which is why we give the opportunity,” he explained. They have worked in this way in their trajectory and the farmer ensures that people value products.

From golf course to garden, beautiful area

Areta has land in Artieda and in a nearby town, with an approximate area of hectares. The owner of one of the plots transferred the land to the Arterra Style-of-Life project, which in turn gave the land to Baratzan Blai. “This land of Artieda was a golf course until we arrived… we’ve turned it around!” says his teammate. Besides orchard, it produces chickpeas and beans in a community of land of the locality, and also spelt, wheat and forage for animals. Everything in the agroecological model, but without a seal, because it doesn't need it either. “We have a direct relationship with the people, and here we also organize visits and neighborhood works, whoever wants to come,” he adds.