Hi, to all the regular CSA Bloggers and to the world of blog visitors!
Last Saturday morning we had a minor crisis-there were 10 boxes for 26 CSA members. It called on our sense of making do and using larger boxes for the moment, but it also pointed to a flaw in the box situation.
The farm purchases the heavy, waxy boxes each year, knowing that they can be used over and over again many times. Yet, the ideal situation would include members packing their produce into coolers or other containers so that the boxes don't have to travel back and forth to the farm.
Core member Daniel O'Leary belonged to a CSA which used heavy canvas bags- which could work in short trips during cool weather, like a trip from your local store to your house. But if the produce is to arrive at your home with a bounce in it's step, so to speak, it's better if it's cool.
Some CSAs use paper bags. Some require a " box deposit". We're working on this as we go.
In three years of doing a CSA, last Saturday was the first time we were short on boxes. Maybe everyone will return their boxes this weekend and we will be just fine.
We don't have a cooled room to keep the produce fresh, and occaisonally, we can turn on the cooler in the barn for a member who's picking up a little later ( if we know ahead of time!)
Maybe some other members have ideas? We'd love to hear them!
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My family runs a 60 subscription CSA program (will be at 100 in 2009!) and our members are responsible for transporting their own goods.
ReplyDeleteWe keep our produce in large coolers we have gotten from Vetrinarian offices (they are used originally to transport medical supplies)
It has also pushed our CSA members to use canvas bags. Which we also sell with our farm logo on for $2.00 each.
I would most likely do away with the boxes, it must be expensive and harder for members to transport back and forth?