With the effects of inflation expected over the next several years, food prices are also expected to to rise. Unless the U.S. Government is able to get away with imposing food price controls in the future, this is inevitable. The predictable rise in the price of food certainly makes the business of growing food an appealing proposition.

Business and investing aside, the trend of community supported agricultural is also growing.  The word “organic” has become a common household word over the span of just five years.  And although the consumption of organic food is still not mainstream, the “awareness” about organic food certainly is.

The average American probably can’t tell you what “organic” means, but they can tell you that organic food costs a lot more than conventionally grown food. Over the last five years organic farmers have watched the demand for their produce increase, right along with the prices they can fetch for it.  An organic farm is simply “a business of growing food,” and in some cases a very profitable business.

However, there are some organic farms that are motivated by more than just profit. The CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm is more than a business, it is an investment in the community. But what exactly is a CSA?

Simply defined, a CSA farm is not a commercial farm where food is sold to a distributor or supermarket.  In a CSA farm, the food is sold directly to the community.  Members buy “shares” in the farm’s harvest, at a predetermined price per share. (Not to be confused with shareholders in a corporation). Throughout the year, the farm’s members receive a weekly box of produce, directly from the farm. As the output of the farm increases, more shares become available, and thus more potential profit for the farm.

Copper Moose Farm, an organic farm located in Park City, Utah, is a farm that was started by John and Kristi Cumming as an investment in their community. John Cumming is the CEO of Powdr Corporation, which owns Park City Mountain Resort, Copper Mountain Resort, and Mount Bachelor, among other ski resorts. Copper Moose Farm runs similar to a CSA farm, but it counts on other streams of revenue, in addition to the shares it sells.

I had a chance to interview, Daisy Fair, the Copper Moose Farm Manager. Daisy has over eight years experience growing organic food, and she is the spirit and driving force behind the farm’s success. This year was Copper Moose’s fifth year as a farm, and its fourth year of organic food production.

In the short, four years of its food production, the demand for Copper Moose Farm’s products has dramatically exceeded supply. How many start-up businesses have this problem in the first four years of production? Copper Moose Farms is expected to be profitable in 2011, but in the eyes of the farm’s owners, the Cumming Family, the business is already a great investment.

In its first year of production, the farm sold 25 shares at $500 per share. In the second year of production, the farm sold double the number of shares, for a total of 50 shares. And in its fourth year of production, the farm sold 85 shares at $900 per share. Talk about impressive business growth! Residents of Park City, Utah, who have purchased shares in Copper Moose Farm, are able to come by the farm on a weekly basis and pick up a box of fresh, organic produce.

Daisy Fair, the farm’s manager, understands the need for the farm to diversify its revenue streams. The farm’s products include both organic vegetables and flowers. Only 75% of the farm’s revenues come from selling CSA memberships, while 25% of its revenues come from sales to wholesale outlets, including restaurants and banquets.  The farm has also begun to host ‘Harvest Dinners’ where diners can come to the farm to harvest food, learn about its preparation, and then dine on site.

For the owners of the farm, John and Kristi Cumming, Copper Moose Farm is the ultimate contribution to the Park City community.  The members of the farm who have a share of its crops, know where their food is coming from and how it is grown.  They also feel good knowing that the food is good for both their health and their local environment. Daisy Fair also sends out a member newsletter that includes information about the food and how it’s grown, recipes, and health and nutrition tips.

This business has no problem finding outlets for its products, as demand certainly exceeds supply. In fact, the farm hasn’t done very much promotion within the community.  Nearly all of the members who have purchased shares have heard about the farm via word of mouth. This is a dream for any new start-up business.

As the price of food will inevitably rise with the pace of inflation, food production could be a great business to invest in over the next few years. Not to mention the intangible value of the investment in the community, as exemplified by Copper Moose Farm in Park City, Utah.