market research results: designing a community supported fishery

Williamsburg CSFRecommendations from

Research

What is a CSF?

A community supported fishery (CSF) is the seafood version of CSAs. Members pay upfront for a regular delivery of seafood throughout a season.

What makes a successful CSF?• Passionate CSF coordinator• Partnerships and business

relationships• Business planning

Research Overview

• 7 members of VA’s seafood industry interviewed

• 29 CSFs interviewed and surveyed

• 855 Williamsburg-area residents interviewed and surveyed

Opportunity

In the first year of operation, we estimate that 554 households would join a CSF.

• Paying grocery-store prices• Bi-weekly delivery of 2lb of

fillets of common fish• Most expect some level of

variety week-to-week

Top Three Motivators1. Customers want fresh, quality

seafood;2. They want to support local

community and businesses;3. They want to support

environmental responsibility.

Challenges (CSF point of view)• Business management, staffing• Membership growth, retention

Challenges(customer point of view)• Price concerns

Challenges(customer point of view)• Inconvenience of delivery

time, day, location

Challenges(industry point of view)• Seafood processing

Research Team• Virginia Sea Grant• W&M Mason School of Business• W&M School of Law• VIMS Green Team• W&M Student Environmental Action Coalition

Thank you!

Questions about the research?Janet KrennVirginia Sea Grant krenn@vims.edu804-684-7362