For growers and consumers, community supported agriculture is an attractive model, says Civil Eats — subscribers get a weekly allotment of fresh produce and farmers have an assured source of income. “But the boxes can be inconsistent” because they depend on what’s in season at the farm, writes Chris Hardman. “And despite the upfront investment by CSA members, many such farmers are still struggling to make ends meet.” Five urban farms in Detroit started a cooperative CSA, called City Commons, in 2012 that shares their products, ensuring a wider range of fruits, vegetable and herbs, and splits the revenue among the farmers. The weekly boxes have eight to 10 items so customers don’t get deluged with a particular fruit or vegetable. Through emails, the growers coordinate their contributions to the weekly deliveries. The group also confers during the winter on what each of them will grow.