CSA Basket of the Week
Well, I leave it to you experts out there (if you buy food, you're an expert, right?), what do you think of this basket of food?
There is a nice basket of berries there in front I need to clean. To the right is a package of sausage, hot. And I do mean hot. Last time I cooked some of this, it was so hot we couldn't eat it, and The Farmer loves to pile jalapeno peppers on salads or sandwiches. I have to wonder if they put it in the baskets because nobody else wants it.
As you can see in the basket, there's 3 yellow squash, a cucumber, 6 little tomatoes, 3 onions, and a few sprigs of herbs. Oh, and a box of mixed beans that are decent.
Now, research by myself and a friend at the local Publix and Farmer's Market would suggest the following prices (and I tried to err on the generous side):
- $4.50 Beans (selling .42/ounce for organically grown beans at Publix)
- $4.99 Berries (per quart at Farmer's Market; guessing that's right size)
- $-.50 Cucumber (2 for $1 at Farmer's Market)
- $2.50 Herbs ($2.50 for bag with about 12 sprigs at Publix)
- $-.45 Onions (10 for $1.49 at Farmer's Market)
- $6.00 Sausage (for 1 1/2 pounds as advertised on CSA site)
- $1.99 Squash (8 or 9 for $1.99 of young squash at Farmer's Market)
- $2.10 Tomatoes (10 for $3.50 at Farmer's Market)
$23.03 Total
We started the second week of May, and run through the first week of October. As near as I can tell, that's 21 weeks for $650, or $30.95 a week. If I'm wrong and there's another week in there, it'd only be $29.54 a week, but I think it's 21 weeks and the higher price.
I know they have to buy baskets and boxes, but then, the people at the Farmer's Market and Publix had to package their goods also, so I don't really think it's fair to add anything on the cost for that.
I would also hope that as their garden produces more, we'd get more in the basket. But leaving quantity aside, which I realize would vary with what the garden is producing, there's the issue of quality. Maybe it's just me, but the squash are way too big - they're supposed to be young and small so there are few seeds. The cucumber is also too old, and several veggies in the past have been the same, like the snowpeas and broccoli.
The sausage is excellent quality meat, but so hot we can't eat it. The Farmer suggested I mix it with some unseasoned pork to tone down the heat, so that might work. I'd hate to feed another $6 worth of meat to the dogs.
I went into this hoping for some high quality food and a great experience to write about. I just know CSA is a good thing, and I wanted to be able to brag about how great the one was I joined. I figured, hey, I could write them up and they get some free advertisment! But you notice I've been careful not to mention the name, and even 'erased' their stamp off the sausage package.
Cause unless I'm missing something, I don't think they've earned bragging rights.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
P.S. I finally figured out what form the email should take I send to the people running this particular CSA (trying to be as non-confrontational as possible). I think I will let them know I've been putting pictures of the produce on my blog, and gotten several comments, and thought they might be interested in reading some of them... then make a list of some I've gotten over the last 8 weeks, along with a comment or two of my own at the end. I'll wait for people to comment on this post, then send them an email tomorrow.
Labels: CSA
posted by Rural Writer @ 12:14 AM
16 Comments
Links to this post
16 Comments:
Publix packaging costs aren't comparable since we (farmers) don't have the buying power Publix has, but certainly the other farmers are about the same. They're over packaging. A bag would have been more appropriate for the beans and tomatoes. In an appropriate sized basket the tomatoes could have been put on top of the other veggies. Since the basket is over kill, and makes what you got look smaller than it already is, they goofed big time on that one.
They should be thinking ahead about their soil. Those garlic tops should have gone into the compost pile, not your basket.
I think the squash is too big too. So is the pickling cucumber. I wonder what they're thinking about pickling cucumbers rather than slicers. What herb is that? It should have been harvested at least 10 days ago. The stems are thick and woody and the tops are going to flower.
The tomatoes and garlic look nice. The blackberries look good but the container should be full to level or they should have given pint containers instead of quarts.
I hate to see new farmers struggle like this. I wish I could drop in to help them get tidied up. Have you thought about emailing them comments each week? Or requests like "smaller squash please" or "no need to use up your packaging on a few tomatoes in my order?" They obviously need some help and you've got the tact and kindness needed to deliver the messages.
Now I'm off to pick for today's office orders so that Steve can drop them off at the office. It's nerve wracking. The orders will be in the back of my mind all day until he comes home tonight and says everyone was pleased. Your farmers could use a dose of nerves to help keep them on track.
Good comments as usual R! I used the Farmer's Market prices whenever I could, and at least the higher prices in the Organic Foods section of Publix when I didn't have a price from the Farmer's Market.
Oh, and those are onions, not garlic. Surprisingly tough to cut through onions. & I also wondered why they would send a pickling cuke instead of a slicer.
Thing is, I know they at least aren't totally new, and did this last year. I'm just not sure exactly how many years they have been doing it.
I wish they had your "nervousness" too, wondering if people liked it. They just send emails telling you how great it all is without ever asking, "How did you like what was in the basket?" or "How could we improve?" That's just good customer relations and good business. I keep hearing over and over in marketing classes, 'ASK THE CUSTOMER WHAT THEY WANT!!!"
I'm sorry you're having such a rough go of it. I really think it's time to speak up and tell them how unhappy you are. I'm quite sure their other clients are feeling the same way.
I wonder what they base their produce amount on? I know that when growing cucumbers, you can't hardly give them away because there are so many. You got one, and it's not even an eating cucumber. I agree with what others have said about the other things in your basket.
I just reread the comments and realized you were talking about the costs of packaging in Publix vs. farmers. Okay, I see what you mean. And I agree with the overpacking comment. Part of a CSA, to me at least, is about "living green", so too much packaging kind of defeats that. We've kind of wondered why they don't ask for baskets back and reuse them for instance.
And the onions... while unexplainably difficult to cut, they DO taste good.
As for the herb, I'm not sure what it is, even after tasting it. Summer savory? Majoram? I really can't tell.
ceecee, I'm putting a p.s. on my entry, but the gist of it is, I agree, it's time to speak up, & I think I've finally figured out a way to be as non-confrontational as possible. I'll just tell them I've been showing pics of the baskets on my blog, and thought they'd be interested in what people had to say.
Wow, that's just crazy. Do you really want to hear my opinion again? :-) You are far kinder than I would have been at this point. I love SeasonsEating's comments....she's the expert...her words are extremely valuable, speaking as she is from a true farmer's perspective. Me? I'm just a consumer...and paying THAT amount of money for THAT ridiculous basket would absolutely infuriate me. Money is tight these days - why should you - week after week - pay the price for their small amounts, poor food quality, silly food choices, and lack of attention to their customers? Customer service is SO big for me...they *should* be asking you for feedback, you're right!
One pickling cucumber? What the heck!
Have you been to their farm and seen their operation? I agree with you that it's time you speak up. While I know you are focusing on being non-confrontational, it is very important that you leave the conversation feeling like you were heard. I would even go so far as to expect some kind of amends or compensation, but that's just me. :-)
There. I may be really unpopular now, but you did ask for opinions again. :-) :-)
Yikes. I have to say well, what Danni said. I am a consumer as well and am in my own CSA again this year. We had a pretty similar experience the first time we had a CSA. We purchased thru a farm that we didnt really get any references from and it ended up being not so good. We had to eventually talk to the farmer and let her know how disappointed we were in the share. We felt like, even tho we understood that when engaging in a CSA you take the good and the bad that this was mostly bad. Other farmers in the area were delivering much better items, so we were quite confused as to the problem. We let her know our feelings and that we really didnt have many good things about the share to pass along to other people. It was hard to do, but we felt we needed to.
I've been thinking about this a lot today. Here's what went out to customers today.
Peas - full, enough for a snack to tease them for next week.
Boc Choi - two, enough for a large stir fry
Tatsoi - one, large enough for stir fry and salad
Red onions - two medium sized
Cucumber - one 12" cucumber
Broccoli - 3/4 lb, enough for two people to have large helpings in one meal
Endive - two medium, enough to add to five or six salads
Basil - 2 oz bunch, enough to add to salad, pasta, etc. for two people
Beet greens - 1.5 pounds
Kale - 1/4 pound
Eggs - one dozen
Total cost: $14.00
I'm not doing a CSA. I have customers who want enough for two people, whatever's ready each week.
Making suggestions is a good idea. I hope your comments are taken in the right spirit.
oops, on peas, I mean full pods.
Well farmgirl_dk, you're right, I did *ask*. So you aren't going to lose any of your popularity points! ;-)
And you're also right, it's high time to speak up. I can't help but wonder, doesn't anyone else think this is pathetic, or is it just me? Of course, how would I know? I'm sure they're not going to say, "Oh we had a couple people quit because of poor quality". Ha!
No, I didn't see the farm operations. They had an open house back in May, but we weren't able to go.
I'm going to work on a letter and tell them the problems and see what they have to say, but I think this is the end of my Great Experiment.
Sadly, the food basket looks meager and not very appealing. I'm sure they can do better than that.
frugalmom, it was nice to hear I'm not the only one to ever have a problem with CSA. I guess it's like anything else, and there's bound to be some of those bad apples in the barrel. Trust me to pick the one with the worm!
I also figured you take the bad with the good, but... I'm tired of waiting for the good, and the Farmer's Markets around here have much higher quality produce.
-------------
seasonseatingsfarm... will you email me one of your baskets? Maybe FedEx? ;-) I think I could almost afford the shipping and still end up with a better deal.
tenpounds, I agree, you'd think they could do better than that. I guess I've waited long enough for them to get better.
I totally respect the experience and fairness of Season's Eatings. She is right on the mark.
I also like what Danni said because she laid it all out and maybe the CSA should hear that, too.
The 'basket' that Season's Eatings offer seems not only fair, but also generous. CSA's should also be thinking long term, not just about the bare minimum they can get away with.
If they make their customers happy and satisfied with the quality and quantity then they can expect those same customers to come back the following year AND spread positive feedback about their farm and operations to others.
Reading about your CSA experience, and being new to CSAs but wanting to sign up for one, has made me very cautious and concerned about getting stuck in something similarly unsatisfactory and wasting money that should not be wasted in our weakened struggling economy.
You're right. It's time to speak up. I'm sure you're nt the only disatisfied customer.
Oh......And by the way, come visit my blog "Laughing Orca Ranch" and pick up the award I nominated you for!!!
You're so right twinville, the CSA is a business, and they should be trying to make their customre happy so they'll come back next year. Also, this one advertised grass-fed beef, and I was going to buy a half beef to put in our freezer... but I won't now.
An award! How cool is that! I'll go check out what you've been up to at your blog!
I was just checking out Frugal Mom's blog and she posted pics of what her CSA gave her and wow!
What a difference between your CSA and hers.
Have you contacted your CSA yet?
Keep us updated, k?
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home