If you are not used to eating seasonally, do some research.
If you are not accustomed to eating seasonally, you may find that it takes a while to make a transition from eating whatever is at the grocery store (pretty much everything -anytime) to whatever is in your CSA bag (what's in season). It may surprise you to find that tomatoes ripen in June in our area and that strawberries are usually available in very early March. You should expect the season to start off with lighter weighing veggies like lettuces and greens and than mid-April we're harvesting brussel sprouts, asparagus, cabbage, and generally heavier produce added. In area, the Winter crops will be salad greens, peas, green onions and the like. By the end of the season, the bags should be much heavier, with things like winter squash, potatoes, tomatoes, and broccoli.
We list anticipated and usual crops and their general seasons so you have an idea what to expect and when to hope for it. It's not written in stone but an educated guess for each season.
Quantity varies
When filling the weekly CSA bags, we try and provide a variety of items, in a reasonable quantity. We don't want to be skimpy, and don't want to overwhelm you either. Too much -even of good things- can end up going to waste, which makes everyone feel bad. Over time, we've develop a feel for how much is the right amount- what's fair, what's reasonable, what will get eaten. Of course, the weather and other mitigating circumstances can get in the way of our ability to provide the ideal amount, as discussed above. One of the most important questions to ask before you sign up is, "About how much produce do you expect to deliver each week, and how does that vary from the beginning of the season to the end?" The answer is not a commitment, but an experienced projection.
If you preserve food when it's in season and abundant, we're the farm to purchase it from-PYO or already picked
We encourage members-and non members(anyone) to get extra quantities of certain vegetables for canning or freezing when the season is in it's peek. If this is something that interests you, we'll work with you to make purchasing extras very affordable-especially if you Pick Your Own.
Make sure you understand the policies.
CSA farmers differ in their policies regarding what happens with your bag if you don't pick it up (e.g. vacation, something-came-up, I forgot, etc.) Make sure you know how these situations are dealt with, before the season starts.