I had hoped to have a picture to put on here this evening of our latest batch of goodies from our CSA (Community Suported Agriculture) membership. This is our third week, and frankly, it’s not going as well as I’d hoped. It’s not the goodies we’re getting that’s the problem, but trying to connect to get them!
First off, they deliver to various areas. When we signed up, we understood there was going to be a drop-off in the town where The Farmer works. Before I ever signed us up, he agreed to pick the food up on his lunch hour, or after work, so no problem there.
The first glitch was the drop-off point. The store which is the pick-up point isn’t in the same town at all, but in the next one over. Okay, we made that adjustment, though it makes it harder and less cost effective since he has to drive further to pick it up.
The next problem is the timing. The first week the guy delivering the food baskets had to work through the delivery day, and stuff didn’t get delivered until the next day. Okay, beginning of the season, glitches happen, move on.
The next week the Farmer called to check if the food had been delivered before going to pick it up. He called right before he left work, and it still wasn’t there. Evidently the guy came soon after, and the storeowner called The Farmer on his cell phone to let him know the food was there, but he was already on his way home. Considering he was more than half way home and considering the price of gas, he didn’t turn around but figured he’d pick it up the next day.
Here we are on the third week, and due to Memorial Day our delivery date was changed again, and we could live with that, but it’s not knowing what time of day the stuff will be there that’s a major problem. The store closes at 5pm, and The Farmer was there at 4:30 this evening, and the guy still hadn’t delivered the stuff. I suppose he made it there before closing time, but then how is anyone supposed to get their stuff until the next day?
That means the greens and vegetables are going to sit in their basket yet another day. I understand they have to be picked one day and delivered the next, but the way it’s going, it’s the following evening of the third day before I finally get them. The produce has lost quite a bit of freshness by that time, especially since it’s not being refrigerated.
Maybe this is how all CSA’s are run, and maybe it works for people who can drop everything to go pick stuff up whenever they get around to delivering it, but it’s not working that well for us. The timing needs to be consistent. I’m beginning to regret I ever signed up for this. It’s not cheap, but for FRESH veggies I figured it was worth it.
If this doesn’t get better, I’m afraid I’m going to feel like it’s not worth the extra expense and trouble for tired vegetables. And if I feel that way, and really wanted to do this, seems like it would be awfully tough to get people just learning to appreciate eating fresh vegetables to bother with it.
How about it, how does this work for other people? Am I expecting too much, or are there better ways of doing this?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I don't belong to a CSA, but I have a friend that does. I'll check with her.
With gas bumping up against $4/gallon here in the Austin area, there's no way I'd drive an extra bunch of miles for tired veggies. Is there any way to talk to whomever you actually signed up with? One thing I do know about many CSAs is that there are often multiple farms involved. Maybe one of their suppliers is hanging them up each week?? It's worth a call. Do they not keep the boxes on ice or at least cool somehow?
I can tell you're really trying hard–you want to support local buying as much as possible, but I'd be steamed by the 3rd week of nonsense. Be sure to let us know how things work out.
It's not how all CSAs are run, or even close to how most are run. I doubt they'll last long if this continues. I'd have a talk with them. If the talk goes well I'd give them a week or two to prove themselves then make a decision. If it's going to continue to be inconsistent it's time to ask for a refund and find a new CSA.
This is from *one* farm, and it's not the first year they've done it, so you'd think they'd know better. Maybe it's a new delivery system.
I'm glad to hear this isn't the usual modus operandi. I thought maybe I was just expecting too much; this is just how it's done. CSA's are such a GREAT idea, I'd hate to think it was always such a hassle.
Whew! You're scaring me. We've been wanting to participate in a CSA for a while, but the drop-off points are a little out of the way for us.
But we were considering it for the fresh veggies and supporting local farms, but if tired veggies and late drop-offs are what usually happen, it won't be something we choose to do.
I hope they get it worked out for their sake and their customer's sakes.
Whew! You’re scaring me. We’ve been wanting to participate in a CSA for a while, but the drop-off points are a little out of the way for us.
But we were considering it for the fresh veggies and supporting local farms, but if tired veggies and late drop-offs are what usually happen, it won’t be something we choose to do.
I hope they get it worked out for their sake and their customer’s sakes.