CSA Items

mandapanda18

I was just wondering if you all have complained about items in your CSA box? I know the items won't necessarily be the prettiest since they are all organic, but I just recieved yet another box with food going bad in it. Last week my onion had mold inside of it when It was cut open, and the apples had been partially eaten by insects. This week my mandarins are super squishy, like beyond good squishy... do I complain, or just take the good with the bad?

MrsOjoButtons

I've been a CSA member in two different states and I've never had bad produce.  I've had stuff that needed to be used within a couple days, but never anything like mold or squishy citrus.  Definitely complain.

CDMay2006

I agree.  Even if you don't expect a refund (which they should offer, or an "exchange"), it would be good for them to know what the problem items are.

WendyGR

Definitely let them know. They might have interns/volunteers/workers who are not doing a good enough job with quality control and they should be told about it.

mandapanda18

Thanks! I called and complained and they partially refunded both weeks and promised to look into the issues/prevent it in the future

Chickypoo2468

Just wondering what a CSA is....

MrsOjoButtons

margaretkaye1:

Just wondering what a CSA is....

Community Supported Agriculture.  Many CSA programs require up front payment to the farmer (or group of local farmers) so they can get the crops started for the year, then the yield gets divided amongst the members who provided money.  The produce you get from a CSA is locally grown, so it's ecofriendly in that it's not being transported across the country or from another country, and also that the produce can be picked closer to peak ripeness, as opposed to things like tomatoes being gassed to produce the red color.   It's also relatively inexpensive since you're not paying for that transportation.  One downside, depending on where you are and how many farmers are in your CSA, the selection can be slightly limited.  When I lived in CA, multiple farms participated, so I had just the right amount of greens, citrus, etc.  Now that I'm in the midwest and everything comes from one farm, we get lots of turnips and radishes one week, then lots of greens the next week.  I have to be creative in my cooking.

mandapanda18

MrsOjoButtons:

margaretkaye1:

Just wondering what a CSA is....

Community Supported Agriculture.  Many CSA programs require up front payment to the farmer (or group of local farmers) so they can get the crops started for the year, then the yield gets divided amongst the members who provided money.  The produce you get from a CSA is locally grown, so it's ecofriendly in that it's not being transported across the country or from another country, and also that the produce can be picked closer to peak ripeness, as opposed to things like tomatoes being gassed to produce the red color.   It's also relatively inexpensive since you're not paying for that transportation.  One downside, depending on where you are and how many farmers are in your CSA, the selection can be slightly limited.  When I lived in CA, multiple farms participated, so I had just the right amount of greens, citrus, etc.  Now that I'm in the midwest and everything comes from one farm, we get lots of turnips and radishes one week, then lots of greens the next week.  I have to be creative in my cooking.

This! my CSA (in Cali) did not require any money up front, i pay based on the number of deliveries I choose to have in a month. I love the deliveries as I never know what is coming and it forces me to use new techniques and learn new recipes!

Chickypoo2468

Thanks! Sounds neat. I doubt we have that here. We don't have anything cool here.

MrsOjoButtons

margaretkaye1:

Thanks! Sounds neat. I doubt we have that here. We don't have anything cool here.

You might be surprised!  I did so much searching to find mine here (I'm near Canada) and of all people, my real estate agent's wife is a nutritionist and she knew of a CSA.  

This website might also help! http://www.localharvest.org/

 

Chickypoo2468

Cool, ill check it out, thanks!!