Searching for possible viable economic pathways for small-scale farms in Eastern Europe, this
study is concerned with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). We are mainly interested
in the costs and benefits for both sides, the farmers and the consumers, when entering into a
direct, trust-based market relationship in the form of CSA. The study is theoretically embedded in
the concept of solidarity economy. The analysis is based on three cases of farmers pioneering
the CSA concept in Romania by offering organic vegetable to their local contracted consumers in
the Western part of the country. All three CSA groups were initiated by a local NGO.