Constructing a Unified Model of Community Formation in Community-Supported Agriculture: Insights from Consumer and Producer Pathways in Japan

Abstract

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has been recognized globally as a promising framework that embeds agriculture within social relations, yet its diffusion remains limited in contexts such as Japan. Existing studies have largely focused on either consumer or producer participation in isolation, offering fragmented insights and leaving unexplored how their reciprocal processes jointly shape CSA communities. This study addresses this gap by integrating the trajectories of both groups into a comprehensive account of CSA community formation. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with ten CSA producers and ten consumers, we employed the Modified Grounded Theory Approach (M-GTA) to inductively theorize processes of participation and practice. The analysis showed that producers advance CSA through internal adjustments and sense-making to cope with uncertainties, while consumers are guided by life events, practical skills, and prior purchasing experiences toward participation. Synthesizing these insights, we propose a six-phase model of CSA community formation, dispersed interest, awareness, interest formation, motivation, practice, and co-creative continuation, that demonstrates how producers, consumers, and intermediaries interact across stages. The model highlights the pivotal role of key players in sustaining engagement and provides a new perspective for institutionalizing CSA as a durable component of sustainable food systems.