Redland Organics
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Redland Organics
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Enrollment is now CLOSED for the coming winter CSA season. Get on the waiting list
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CSA FAQsIs there a pickup site near me?Probably. We have 3 pickup sites in Broward (Plantation, Pompano Beach, and south Ft.Lauderdale-east of Pembroke Pines), North Miami/Miami Shores, Miami Beach, South Miami, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Palmetto Bay, 6 in the Keys (Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine, Key West Old & New Town), and of course, at the farm in the Redland/Homestead area. We MAY set up additional sites if we get a minimum of 15 shares for that site. If it turns out that we cannot service a new area (because we can't meet the required minimum), you can choose another pickup site or we will refund your money before the season begins. TOP
How does a half-share work?A half-share means you get a smaller quantity of food every week, for the same 19 or 20 week period. Some items will be the same- for instance, everyone might get a head of lettuce. Or, for example, you might receive 2 squash while a full share gets 5. Or, a half-share might not get any of a particular item that week. The share contents are listed in your newsletter. TOP
What's a trial share?A trial share is a full share that runs for 4 weeks only. There are only a few trial shares available each season, and they start in January, but you must sign up before December. Trial shareholders can elect to continue for the remainder of the season at the end of their trial period. TOP
What's in a share?It changes every week, depending on what we're harvesting. You can get a very good idea of what's in a share as the season progresses by checking out the online Newsletter archive. Open newsletters at random and compare a full vs a half share- read what's in the share that week. We also began including weekly pictures of a full share starting in the 2006-2007 season.
Can I get a half-share trial share?Sorry, no. Trial shares come in one size only (full share). TOP Why don't the trial shares begin before January?The trial shares make a great holiday gift. They are also recommended for those who are unsure about the program. The first and last few weeks of the growing season are not typical of the quantity and variety of produce that will be available on a weekly basis. Production peaks in January and February here in South Florida, and that is when we offer the trial shares. TOP
I want to split a full share with a friend- what do I do?One of you will be responsible for the signup and payment. We recommend that you take turns picking up the shares. You can also decide to each take some of the items every week, but we do not recommend trying to split every item in half-- it just doesn't work well.. TOP
Do I just take the first box I see?Please don't! Make sure you take the box that corresponds to your share size. Two half-shares does NOT make 1 full share. We send out the exact number of shares for each site. If we have extra food, we put it in a special, separate "XTRAs" box. Feel free to take something from the "XTRAs", but do not take items from other share boxes. If you take something out of another box, you will be leaving someone else with no food!! TOP
I don't like this stuff,- I think I'll leave it and get more of the yummy stuff...Feel free to swap for something that's in the XTRAs box. Consider trying that item you didn't like before in a new recipe--and remember, fresh, organically-grown food often tastes VERY different from the 'store-bought' stuff. You might find a new favorite food-- experiment! TOP
What about the extra items?Extra items are placed in coolers or boxes labeled "XTRAs". Feel free to take one or two items from the box. If there's something in your share that you don't want, add it to the XTRAs for someone else to enjoy. But remember there are others coming behind you, so don't get too greedy with those XTRAs... TOP
What happens if I have to go out of town?We need to know (email us -the address is in your newsletter) at least 48 hours ahead of time in order to suspend your share. This means that you need to email us NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY NIGHT. Alternatively, you can opt to have a friend pick it up in your stead. If you tell us, we will donate your portion to Farm Share that week. If you forget to tell us in time, your share will go out at usual and you must make arrangements for someone to pick it up or will forfeit your share for that week. TOP
Why do you need 48 hours notice to suspend our share for the week?We take the final weekly count very early on Thursday morning (6am). Then we start harvesting and packing. It takes us two days to get everything together and ready to deliver Saturday morning, so we have to hear from you no later than Wednesday night. If you tell us too late, your share will go out as usual, and you should let your site coordinator know that there will be an extra share left behind, or send someone to pick up your share for you. TOP
How many times can I suspend my share?You can suspend your share up to 2 (two) times during the season. There are two makeup weeks at the end of the season. If you think you'll be absent for more than two pickups, please try to find someone who will pick up the cost (and the food) for those weeks. We do not give refunds or credits for missed weeks. TOP
What happens to leftover food?That's up to the site host. They are free to eat, give away, or donate the food to their favorite soup kitchen. The site host will tell you how long s/he will hold leftover food before s/he considers it 'abandoned'. You should arrange to pick up your food within 2-3 hours of its arrival. TOP
When does the food arrive?We deliver on Saturday. We'll try to give you an estimate of arrival time for the first week. Expect some variation, especially at the beginning. After a couple of weeks, the driver will have the route down pat and will usually arrive around the same time each week. But remember that sometimes traffic is bad, so the driver might be delayed on occasion. If we find out there will be a delay, we will alert the site host . TOP
I came late, and my box was missing!Please try to come early. Unfortunately, we can't control what happens after we deliver the shares. Sometimes people ask a friend or a spouse to pick up their share, they don't have a clue what to do, and they take the wrong box. If you arrive late, you'll be the one left short. If this happens to you, please speak with your site host. The site hosts graciously provide their homes for your convenience, but don't expect them to be the 'food police'. Usually, a couple of volunteers from your group manning the pickup site for a week or two will resolve the problem. The volunteers will answer any questions, explain the procedure, and help identify any 'strange' food items. TOP
The brochure says 20 weeks, but there are only 19 share deliveries this season. Why?Our normal delivery day is Saturday. Many CSA members are out of town during the Christmas-New Year week, and we like to give our workers a bit of time to relax and celebrate, too, so we skip the intervening Saturday. Ditto with the Saturday after Thanksgiving. And no, we won't inundate you with two weeks' worth of food at one time- the truck isn't big enough, and neither is your refrigerator. The price for the season will be a little less than it would have been if we had 20 deliveries. TOP
How much does a share cost?A full share in 2007-2008 costs $600. The half-share is $360. You can reserve your share with a $160 deposit, payable by September 1st, and pay the remainder by October 15th. The 4-week January Trial shares are $160. Egg and honey shares are purchased separately- you will find pricing on the website when they are available.
I live in the Keys. Why does it cost more?We have to do a separate delivery run to serve our Florida Keys members. With the price of fuel, the long distances involved and the smaller number of shares, we're 'cost-sharing' the extra delivery costs. Keys residents pay $4/week delivery surcharge ($80 for the entire season, $20 for trial shares). We absorb the rest of the added costs.
What do I do with the boxes, bags, and rubber bands?Please carefully flatten and return your box. We reuse our boxes until they fall apart or are too soiled for reuse. On the farm we use sturdy coolers and totes designed to last for several years. Food safety issues require that we cannot reuse plastic bags, or clamshell boxes, but YOU CAN, and our egg cartons are too flimsy to reuse, so please use & recycle these things at home! TOP
If I'm not happy. Can I get my money back?We use your share dollars to buy our seeds, fertilizers, supplies and generally capitalize our operation. Most of these expenses are incurred prior to planting the crops. So, we let you know up front that there are NO REFUNDS AFTER NOVEMBER 1st (and there is a $40 non-refundable administrative/ sign-up fee if you cancel before November 1st). If you're not happy with the program, there are probably others on the waiting list who would be happy to take over your share. Your site host may know someone who wants to join but missed the deadline, and you can make the financial arrangements directly between yourselves. But, don't be hasty to judge us by the first few weeks - remember that at the start of the season, things are ramping up- you may not get as much quantity or as much diversity as you will receive later in the season when we're in full production. Hang in there awhile before you decide it's not for you! TOP |
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