#1: IS THE
RELATIONSHIP TO THE ACTUAL
FARMER
IMPORTANT TO
YOU?
(DO YOU WANT TO
SUPPORT A
FARMER?)
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We find time and time again, that the #1 reason for joining a CSA was to support a
LOCAL FARMER.
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CSA members want to be able to connect to the farmer and land that is feeding them. There’s something rewarding about knowing you are doing your part to
SUPPORT a LOCAL FARMER.
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Being a part of our CSA Family allows you to access great-tasting food, knowing that our farm and FAMILIES livelihood depend on it. This means that you are committed to supporting us throughout an entire season, taking in the good with the bad. Let's be real, farming comes with many risk: bugs, flooding, drought and diseases. Mother Nature is ultimately in charge and sometimes crops might not appear in your share box for a summer. On the flip side. if we have a bumper crop of summer squash or peppers, you will be share in the extra bounty.
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CSA members live with and embrace this reality every day. Their motivation for SUPPORTING the farm is just as much about having the back of the farmer as it is about getting the full financial value of their share.
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Make sure you read that last sentence again.
IT's KINDA OF HUGE.
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And this relationship goes both ways. When you join our CSA family, we work to cultivate a connection with you. We want to help you know your food - from growing it to preparing it.
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So, whatcha think?
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Yes, I care about knowing my farmers and where my food comes from.
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No, it don't really care where my food comes from.
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Ever find yourself unsatisfied with the grocery store tomatoes in winter? - They got no flavor!
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IF so, you could be a potential CSA member! Taste Matters!
One of the most important qualities of our CSA "Veterans" is that they love food - REAL FOOD. Food that is grown with care, in healthy soil and harvested at the perfect time, to ensure that you receive the freshest and tastiest produce. In fact, CSAs often create food snobs, because customers finally experience how a juicy vine ripened tomato should taste and they can't go back to those flavorless, colorless grocery ones.
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If you really love cooking and value taste, then you will LOVE being in a CSA. Because CSAs are all about providing high-quality, artisanal vegetables that help create a delicious home dining experience.
You’re paying for that taste experience when you join a CSA.
If you’re just looking for a basic celery and carrot at the cheapest price so you can make an iceberg salad — a CSA is might NOT be for you.
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So do you love flavor?
-
You betcha, 100% taste matters to me.
-
No, I'm all about the $$$
#2: DO YOU VALUE
HAVING QUALITY
VEGETABLE
INGREDIENTS THAT
ACTUALLY TASTE
GOOD?
#3: Are you willing to try
new foods? (Really?)
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CSAs will push you to try new foods, learn about seasonality and explore variety in your kitchen.
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You will discover new veggies you will love, and some that you might have to learn to love. Let's be real, there might be a few that you might not like (that's ok).
Part of our CSA experience means you get exposed to some vegetables you might have never seen before. Let's face it, you might not pick up the Kohlrabi at the market and put it in your bag (if you would- your definitely a good CSA candidate!)
It’s all part of the bigger goal in CSA, developing food diversity and teaching our communities (and our kids) how to eat seasonally again.
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How do you feel about trying new veggies?
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Yes, I am totally down.
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Not sure I that adventurous
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CSA members have to learn to be FLEXIBLE with their weekly menu.
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We try to give you a few days notice about what will be in your box, but being willing to swap out ingredients and make things work in the kitchen makes the experience much smoother.
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Some people love this kind of spontaneity—others get completely stressed out by it.
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Think hard on this:
Are you willing to give up some control over what veggies you get each week?
Or do you need to live by your plan?
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If you really want to stick to your plan, you might be better off buying exactly what you want from the farmers market or a grocery store. The most common reason members leave the CSA is that they didn’t get enough of the things they wanted, and too much of what they didn’t want.
CSA works best for customers who see their kitchen as a creative space, and our veggies as the paint for their canvas.
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Are you flexible when it comes to meal planning?
-
Yes, I can go with the flow.
-
No, I need to stick to my plan.
#4: Do you need control
in your menu
planning?
#5: ARE YOU WILLING TO WORK AT
EATING THE
CSA WAY?
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People who fully embrace the CSA experience don’t look for their membership to be a “deal” or a bargain. And they don’t compare the CSA experience to the grocery store price.
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Read that again.
This is a really key point.
It is absolutely understandable to ask...
“how much does it cost?” and then weigh the pros and cons.
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Supporting a CSA financially is not just about doing a cost analysis of each vegetable you receive in your box and comparing it to what you’d pay at Target or Costco.
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Our vegetables have added value because each of our vegetables is telling a story.
Not just a story about how it was grown, harvested, or what struggles it faced on the way to your plate. Not just the story of your farmer and how you are helping them live out their calling to the land.
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Every vegetable is also telling your unfolding story.
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Our vegetables become a means to an end: they showcase your journey with food. They are the starring attraction in your quest to master the kitchen and prepare a delicious meal to rival any restaurant fare—a meal you can be proud of. This is not something any grocery store can give you.
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CSA customers appreciate this added value of our product, and are willing to pay for it.
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So, if you’re saying to yourself, “well, that’s more than you’d pay at ______” you may want to hit the pause button on this.
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Are you looking for a new experience or the best deal you can find?
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Yes, I want the CSA experience.
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No, I really prefer to get the best deal possible.
Remember, CSA is just one way of getting fresh, local food onto your table.
For those who value the story, journey, and farmer relationship behind the food, a CSA can be a great opportunity that can change the way you eat forever.
But there is also no shame if signing up for a CSA isn't for you and you prefer buying weekly from a farmer’s market. Decide what is a better fit for your style and needs. We do both, so we just want it to be right for you.
As in all things, expectations determine how you experience the product. To set you up for CSA success, make sure your expectations align with the philosophy of CSA before you commit.
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Don't think the CSA is a good fit, check out our Market Cards.
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Purchase a $20 Market Card and get $25 worth.
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By purchasing a Market Card, you are given a balance to use toward your Farmers Market purchases at our Market Stands. We will keep and manage the Market Cards, so you never have to worry about forgetting it! Simply come to market, shop, we'll swipe your card & you are on your way! Market Shares can be used to purchase anything for sale in our booth: veggies, flowers and GEG swag.
Market Shares are a great way to SUPPORT the farm because they still provide us with the up front capital that we need at the start of the season (just like CSA). We use those dollars to purchase seeds and supplies needed to grow your veggies & flowers. Best part, you get to choose only the veggies and flowers you want!
Click HERE to purchase a Market Card
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