csa's consist of a community of individuals who pledge to support a farm, essentially making the farmland community-owned. growers and consumers provide mutual support and share the risks and benefits of food production. members typically receive a weekly delivery and collection of boxes of fruit and vegetables, dairy products or meat. csa's began in the early 1960s in germany, switzerland, and japan in response to concerns about food safety and the urbanization of agricultural land. while food scarcity is no longer a prominent issue in china, many people worry about its safety. a nationwide scandal in 2008 involving toxic contamination of milk powder and tests that found traces of banned pesticides on supermarket vegetables has made many consumers more thoughtful about how their food is produced and where it comes from.