Reviews for: Grant Farms CSA

CLOSED! Bankrupt in April 2018

I personally have visited Grant Farms and personally know Andy Grant.

One of the reasons I chose to join Grant Farms CSA several years ago is because I took a class on transportation logistics and learned about how food is transported around the world - specifically about the impact of chemically enhancing the produce to make it survive long trips. There was also lots of discussion about Fair Trade practices and how poorly farmers get treated from everything to do with work conditions to how they are unable to compete in trade markets. I started researching solutions for a paper I was writing and came across the idea of Community Supported Agriculture.

The money I spend (my dollar voted) on produce, meat, cheese, eggs, etc. goes directly to my (organic) farmer without the need for excess chemicals, labor, and emissions to transport produce long distances. My farmer does not have to pay big-box companies (such as grocery store chains) fees just to stock produce.

We have been part of the CSA for several years, before and after the bankruptcy. Over the years, the quality and service has continued to degrade. This year, our family share box generally came with at least half the produce needing to be processed or eaten within one day. Deliveries are on Tuesday, but I work full time and can't do much until the weekend. Usually half of the items ended up in the compost. For example, we received two cucumbers in a recent delivery. Both had deep bruising and black spots. Beets are overgrown, 10" across. Delivery times were inconsistent with trucks breaking down frequently. Pickup is on the honor system, several times our items were missing. I wish they would survey members on the types of food we want before the growing season - I will likely avoid beets and cabbage for another year. Last few months, fruit share was mainly apples, not a variety as expected. Eggs were the only good consistent quality. Overall, very disappointed this year.

Grant Farms CSA is working hard to provide a food option in Colorado that resolves many of the glaring inadequacies of our industrial food system: food miles are reduced from the typical 1500 to under 100, members are able to eat seasonally and know the farmer behind their food. On top of that, a sense of community comes with every share, whether it is via weekly pick-ups at members' homes, or if it is by attending one of the many farm events. Grant Farms CSA provides an opportunity to derive meaning from the food we eat, all while supporting Colorado's food economy.

I was a member for several years and am coming back this season. Grant Farms is by far the best CSA I have ever been a part of. They are friendly and familiar and filled with your best intentions. They do a great job educating us on what to make with the wide variety of vegetables we received. I would say this can be a hard adjustment for most busy people to plan their diet around what comes out of the garden each week, let alone grow a garden. We had to prepare our food everyday and learn to ferment all the cabbage we received toward the end of the season but we loved knowing where our food came from. I am happy to be included in the Grant Farms CSA again in 2016 and can't wait to see how the challenges are addressed this season.

Love and Lyrics! Melissa

I was disappointed with much of the produce I received this year. I documented much of it with photos, and contacted Grant Family Farms for comment. My last 3 orders were completely frozen when picked up during the scheduled time. Much of the produce was not fresh, and other items were over grown, or damaged. If the produce was fresh, I would purchase again, but I am going to try another farm group in 2016. I want to support the local farmer, and sustainable food sources, but fresh nutritious food is the most important factor.

I have done CSA previously, but my experience with Grant Farms this year has been poor.

The quality and quantity of the produce some weeks has been poor. They did a weird move where for the last 2 weeks, which they expanded to 3 weeks, no fruit was delivered in the middle of the fruit season. Communication has also been poor.

I was really excited to participate in my first farm share this season. Unfortunately, it has been a miserable experience and continues to be awful. There are a number of issues that I have had with Grant Farms including change of days of pick up, not having my share available, not communicating when sending extra shares, and charging me for my second half of the season less than 3 weeks into the first season (and not communicating with me that they were doing that). For the cost of the CSA I would expect better customer service than what I have received. My experience with the only person that I have been in contact with has been combative and unwilling to give me any other person to speak with. It was so bad that my husband had to call and he had the same experience. They did offer to deliver at my home but I didnt feel comfortable with that given that the person at Grant Farms was so combative and I even felt a little threatened. I have requested to cancel the rest of the season an

Proud member since 2013. We get the medium vegetable share every year. 4 stars because the prgram and food were amazing but, communication wasn't the best in 2014. Last month I signed up for this season, they called same day and said, "so glad you're back." If this keeps up, they'll get all 5 stars! All I can say is I love my farm.

This is my 5th year with the farm and it has become a total disappointment. I have been such a HUGE supporter. We are supposed to receive news letters and I had told them I was not getting them issues where never resolved. In previous years we had gotten 2 bags of fruit with the single share and there was a variety of fruits this year for 3 months now I have got nothing but 1 bag of peaches, wish I would have known it was a peach only share. I have also received moldy cheese. The vegetable have been very old, half of them go strait to compost there has not been a lot of variety there as with the fruit. SADLY, I don't think I will be returning. :(

I really enjoyed opening up my veggie shares box each week to see what surprises were inside. There were lots of delicious greens this season. I found the early season ones to be more tender and sweet than the later deliveries. Given the choice at the grocery store, I would not choose kale or collard greens, but they are good for me. I usually cook them up with olive oil, onions, and garlic and I've really enjoyed them. I don't like cilantro, so I left that for someone else. It seemed to be in the box almost every week. Besides that, the variety seemed to be good and the quantities fairly easy to manage for a couple who eats at home most days. The eggs are great too! I wish the pick up location was more convenient, but I see they are working on this for next year. I'm already signed up for 2014 and looking forward to it!

As a 2nd year member of the Grant Farms CSA, I understand there were "growing pains" this year. I appreciate the tremendous effort given by you, for me to be able to buy local, fresh, organic products from a group who values those foods and act as sustainable as much as I do. I loved the ability to customize my shares, whether it's for veggies, fruits, eggs, cheese, greens, etc. I didn't start out the season with a fruit share, and loved being able to add it on later. I would like to see more variety, especially within each "family" (such as offering spinach, different varieties of kale or beets, to name a few in the greens department). I would also love to see other offerings in the fruit share, instead of just one type of fruit (I know, hard to do in Colorado!). I feel the costs appropriately reflected the value I received in each weekly share. I appreciated the wonderful, fresh, farm-to-table feeling of eating. I will be back next year, and I can't wait to host as well!!!!

Last year was my 3rd year as a member, and I was expecting some changes with the restructuring. However, I was very disappointed with the variety and even the quantity of the produce I received. There was way too much of the same (I have green onions frozen to last a year, and threw away the weekly cilantro), and there was very little new or interesting in the box. I missed the what's in the box info as I got some greens that I was not sure were collard, mustard or turnip greens. Not sure if I am going to join next year. Thanks.

I am doing the Kitchen Share this year and have done fruit and vegetable in the past. The Kitchen share has been such a fun experience of being "all in" with trying to eat local and organic. We love the produce, and the cheeses, meats, mushrooms, eggs etc. that come with the Kitchen share are so yummy. We feel good about what we are eating. Amazing friendly people running everything....we couldn't be happier!

We love being part of Grant Farms CSA, and were so happy when they contacted us to say "we're back!" We have been Grant Farms CSA members for 5 years, and have hosted for the past 2 years. We have consistently excellent produce, and absolutely wonderful eggs. As vegetarians, my family appreciates the variety, and looks forward to next year for an even larger variety now that GF is back up and running with a full crop.

This was my second year with Grant. All the produce in my veggie share was fresh and of good quality, but as expected with the restructuring, there were a couple downsides, such as significantly less variety, also the greens and beets tasted flat and a little murky; totally subjective, I know; probably the soil? I was, however, happy to see their return, as they are friendly and the pickups are convenient; and the 2012 season was a joy and inspiration, particularly with the option to work the farm. I travel a lot, making it hard to use all the food, so I won't be participating next year.

We got a all kitchen share and it was really good. Cost about the same as you buy them in supermarket but you can trust the source. We will come back and join again.

This ends my 5th season with the farm, and my 2nd as a host. I am looking forward to many more. Being a CSA member has changed the way I cook and eat, and make a huge difference for my family. We love to see what comes each week, and my small children relish the fresh food. Great value, fresh and local food.

I have been a Grant Farms CSA member for FOUR years. I have enjoyed learning how to prepare REGIONAL and SEASONAL vegetables that are not common grocery-store fare, as well as enjoy local mushrooms and cut flowers. I love that this CSA was available to me in Denver, in STEAMBOAT while I lived there, and now as I live in Laramie, WYOMING. This year I tried the KITCHEN SHARE, and my family loves the high quality meat, cheese, eggs, veggies, mushrooms, and microgreens each week. We rarely visit the grocery store, and we eat exceptionally well every day. In all four years, I have never been disappointed with my weekly allotment.

My husband and I have been Grant Family Farm CSA members and supporters for several years now. After everything that has happened in the past year or so for GFF we were unsure if they would grow organic veggies and let alone offer shares this year. They did! Although perhaps not quite as much variety as in past years, but what we did receive in our veggie share each week was fresh and tasty! I feel that this really shows the commitment that Andy Grant and everyone at Grant Family Farms has (and always has had) for organic farming! From the fantastic fruit to the tasty Swiss chard, tomatoes, collards, tomatoes and everything else offered, it's a great program and we're grateful. Thank you.

I have been a member/pick-up site host for several years. Grant Farms provides the best products available. I am always sad at the end of the season when I have to again purchase my eggs, fruit and veggies from a grocery store. The shares are always fresh and very generous. I was a member of another CSA and compared to them Grant Farms was much better. Grant Farm's delivery season was longer and the quantity per share was much larger. As a host, I have seen how willing the farm is to 'make things right' with a customer even when the farm is not at fault. (IE: when someone takes something that they were not supposed to take and the result is that another member is shorted, Grant Farms will always make it up to the member the following week and will also add something extra too.)

I've been a Grant Farm CSA member for several years through the ups and downs of getting things started several years ago to the rebooting this year. Without fail, I have been overjoyed with my shares and the length of the season. Generous, delicious, and beautiful. As my family is shrinking, this year I had only an egg and fruit share. So wonderful to have really fresh eggs from happy chickens! And what a peach season we had! Apples are fabulous, too. The pick up is easy and folks are friendly. I won't miss a season.

I especially like the fact that this CSA has some unique items to choose from--not only veggies, eggs, cheese, fruit, and mushrooms, but also microgreens, canned goods, and an all-in-kitchen share, which includes lots of fun stuff. This makes for great additions to the weekly menu and helps us to prepare healthy and seasonal meals with locally-grown foods.

The produce has been wonderful--fresh seasonal veggies and beautiful herbs. I also love getting the colorful, huge eggs from this farm--they are super delicious and fresh.

When I have had questions, I get a personal call with a quick and friendly response--delightful customer service!

Here is the deal...I was skeptical about starting with a CSA because I am a very cost-concious person. I like to budget as much as possible throughout the year. However, I quickly realized that NOT only was Grant Family Farms going to save me money- it was providing the freshest, most beautiful, most local vegetables and fruit I've EVER experienced. I have LOVED having Grant Family Farms in our household- and my family loves it too. I absolutely recommend it to anyone who cares about trying to eat local!

We have been members for three summer growing seasons now, and also get winter veggie, egg, bread and cheese shares. The vegetables we have received have always been fresh, and the variety has made us eat things I might otherwise not buy in the store. We have also ordered poultry and meat. It is very important to us to support local agriculture, to eat organically raised vegetables and eggs, and to get healthy dairy products from small scale local cheesemakers through the farm. We have just signed up again for the summer season in 2012.

What can we say? The farm has delicious, brightly-colored veg etables and the best chicken and eggs anywhere. When we first signed up for the CSA, we thought this was a really weird idea. It felt strange to go into someone's back yard to get our groceries. But now our whole family loves the wonderful food that arrives each week and we are all healthier than ever. We have been challenged to eat better and learn to cook new things as fabulous heritage vegetables appear in our share. We love the recipes Grant farm includes with each delivery. We eat at home more than ever as we can't resist the delicious sweet tomatoes or the new variety of squash! We also loved seeing the animals on the farms romping happily in the fields and eating organically grown produce in the sunshine when we have visited.

The Thanksgiving dishes are done and the family happily playing foosball, and we can�t help but be thankful for Grant farms. Our meal was full of the farm's love and goodness.. Green beans, mushrooms, squash, pumpkin, cherries, apples, rhubarb, greens, peaches, leeks, onions, potatoes, chicken and even wine all from the healthful fields of Grant farms. Even the eggs in the pumpkin pie were from the happy chickens. Bless the farm for the wonderful work that filled our table.

This is my first season as a Grant Family Farms CSA member.

This year, a couple friends and I decided to try splitting a Family Share of vegetables and a Double Share of fruit, to try and get a sampling of the local bounty. We heard about it from our local Basil Doc's manager, and after some research, decided it was well worth our investment.

To this day I believe it has been one of the best decisions I could have made! For little more than I would have spent on organic produce at the local super market, I receive a truly beautiful delivery of assorted (always assorted!) vegetables and fruits of all shapes and sizes. I love that nothing is homogenous, that not everything is the exact same color, and that nothing is tainted with chemical toxins. I love learning about things I've never tasted (beet greens! Kohlrabi! Hubbard Squash!) and I love the distinct, special flavors of foods I know were grown less than 100 miles away.

Grant Farms puts in a good deal of hard work not only to offer good food to the people of Colorado, but also to invite them to learn more about where food comes from, and how we can better nourish ourselves and one another. I hope I can continue to support Andy Grant and the farmers he represents by participating in programs like this whenever possible.

Our family has truly enjoyed participating in the Grant Family Farms CSA program. The variety and quality of the produce is unsurpassed, in fact I'd say we are really spoiled for good now. Not only are we healthier as a result of vegetables and fruits that have real nutrients and plentiful minerals, we know we're helping the environment too. If we could buy all of our food this way, we would do so.

Plus there is nothing quite like the adventure of discovering types of vegies you've never heard before, and working out new recipes to prepare them.

I'd recommend this to anyone, this program is really helping to restore a vital part of the American economy and way of life.

Also something that is worth knowing of our 'too big' CSA is that this spring we sent out a letter to all of our past members. It was titled 'tough times' We were reaching out to any of the people that had been members in the past but because of tough times couldn't afford to join this year. I read so many really amazing stories of hardship or personal tradedy. We donated over $40,000 of FREE shares to these worthy, good people, hopefully helping them and giving them a morale boost......they believed in us by joining in the past............and we were gonna be there back for them. That is community.

I was one of the original members of Grant Farms CSA. I am a HUGE believer in CSA's and embrace the oddball veggies you get: it expands our horizons for cooking. But I gave up on Grant Farms. I was a member for 4 years, the last 2 were disappointing to say the least. We routinely got rotten vegetables (I once picked up a canteloupe straight from the box at the pickup site and my thumb and forefingers went straight through. I'd like to say that was incredibly unusual, but it wasn't) and yet the newsletter would just tell us that was "part of the deal: CSA's get the leftovers." We signed up but weren't told we'd need to do a "stint" during the season of 4 hours work to monitor pickups. I'm not against that, but we weren't told beforehand, and would have NEVER committed to the pick up day we did since there is no way we could do 4 hours of volunteer work on a workday. When we brought that to their attention, we were told we weren't being "group focused." Again, that's not the question, they never told us beforehand that would be the case (and is unusual for CSA's in this area, so not as if we should have expected that). Routinely, at the local farmer's market, their booth would have TONS of heirloom tomatoes: the last year I was a member, CSA's never got a single heirloom: green slicers only. I now belong to another local CSA, we get first choice since we are the ones that are gambling our money to support them, as compared to the convenience shoppers at the farmer's market. They are gracious, friendly, and very very customer oriented. Additionally, I belong to a fruit grower's CSA and receive the same degree of customer service. Grant is either uncaring or too large to care.

I have been a Grant Family Farms CSA member now for a little over a year. I started in the winter with egg and bread shares to see how it worked out. Then I expanded to veggies, fruits and flowers. Later, when they offered cheese shares, I bought one of those too.

This is not like buying food from the grocery store. The food is not washed or waxed in order to look pretty. It's not ugly or unappealing, it just isn't gussied up. The cheese is good when delivered (I usually eat one that same day) but gets better when allowed to age.

There were plenty of items in my share I would not have considered purchasing if I were buying a la carte. Yet that forced me to expand my repertoire and eat healthier. I learned that I don't like kale chips but enjoy daikon radish chips. I've learned to bake with beets and cook apples every which way. Even with single shares and a family of four, I found I could not use all of the food in our shares before they would start to go off.

So, I invested in some methods of preserving. I'm not a big fan of canning, so I only canned applesauce. But I found that using my dehydrator and freezer I am enjoying the bounty of the season even into early May.

Because of my CSA shares and milk delivery, I rarely have to buy groceries from a store. I have been so pleased that this year I added a mushroom share.

However, I did not re-order a flower share. The cut flowers are lovely and more varied than from the florists I have used in the past, but they are also not subject to all the spraying and preservatives that goes on flowers from the florist. As a result, they don't last as long. They can still look nice 5-6 days after pickup if I change the water every day. However, I had a timing issue. Because of the day my share is delivered, the flowers were lovely during the weekends and days my office doesn't see clients and began to fade by the time I really wanted to show them off. If I wanted the flowers for home, they would have been just fine.

Our first year as a CSA member with Grant Family Farms has been life changing. Cooking at home every night, enjoying veggies I have never even heard of, lost those last 5 lbs and feeling great. We found a new connection to and appreciation for food! We actually went out to the field and cut our halloween pumpkins off the vine for the first time ever. Plus we are so blessed to have Grant to buy heathy eggs and meat raised on the farm happily and respectfully! THEY ROCK!

First of all I just want to tell you we have loved our Grant Farm Shares this summer/fall. We moved to CO last spring and I was so excited when I found Grant Farms and the pick up site in Larkspur (where we live) that it made my season! We have loved all of the delicious greens, purples, reds, whites, oranges, browns, yellows, and oranges of the season for the veggie and fruit shares (and the eggs too). The value of locally grown, sustainably farmed, CSA model farming is priceless. As a holistic health coach dedicated to changing the way people eat and live, I am fully committed to supporting real food at every step. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the hard work the entire crew at Grant Farms does throughout the year. We appreciate it! Our experience with Grant Farms has been truly wonderful. The produce has been excellent and bountiful. The people that work at the farm really do care and work so hard to meet everyone's needs and wishes. I can't tell you all how very important the CSA model is for the health of each of us as individuals and the world globally. So if you are on the fence, please sign up! You can't go wrong with Grant Farms.

We would absolutely do the egg share again, but next year we will try a different C.S.A. for the veggie and fruit shares. Vegetable shares had some excellent stuff, especially the greens and the leeks. The huge disappointments were the tomatoes and the sweet corn, which were generally of poor quality. Tomatoes were packed so that any ripe ones were crushed and had to be composted. We ate a lot of fried green tomatoes, which I can grow on my own. The cherry tomatoes were nice, and perhaps that is the way to go.

Fruit shares had some real highlights, especially the pie cherries and the cherry wine, but it was not of a great variety, and the P.R. regarding that issue could have been better handled. In the same newsletter that told us we would not get a fruit share that week, there was an article about people needed to help pick raspberries. There were no melons, which would presumably be one way to avoid crop losses due to bloom freeze. There were no grapes. Things like that. Ultimately, we just can't eat that many apples. This is an organization well worth supporting, but we will spread our C.S.A. cash someplace else next year.

I am very happy with my single veggie share as my first season wraps up. The weekly newsletters are great and keep you informed of the goings on at the farm. I tried several of the recipes linked in the newsletter...always with great results. I have a newfound love of beets, something I always detested growing up. It's amazing how tasty fresh local produce is. The process couldn't be easier and my drop-off location is very near my home. I feel good about supporting local farmers and have a great respect for the work that everyone does and the care they take at GFF. I plan to try the eggs soon as I have heard they are incredible! I recommend GFF without hesitation.

I joined GFF in 2010, my first time ever in a CSA. I can't say enough great things about this experience. I had no idea how much better-tasting local produce would be, and it is fantastic. I would never buy organic produce in the store, due to the expense, but I feel that this CSA is a great bargin. I learned what to do with items that were new to me - kale, chard, kohlrabi, beets, to name a few - and how to preserve extras for the winter. As one person with a single share, I definitely have a lot of extras in my freezer; the share is a very generous size. The weekly newsletter is great: it gives some idea of what to anticipate getting that week, but is also full of great recipes and tips on preserving, as well as insights about farming. They were also very open about why there is so much green stuff in June (that's what grows here), and why the tomatos were late (cool spring and a hailstorm). Finally, I feel good about supporting a local business, and doing something healthy for me and the earth. I love "my farm", as I call it.

I am just completing my first season with Grant Family Farms. I received a veggie and fruit share, plus eggs and bread. I have loved every week of the season! The veggies and fruit are wonderful and so full of flavor, the eggs are fresh and delicious and the bread is awesome! I have ordered a winter share so I can enjoy the Happy Hens eggs all winter and get the GFF's yummy squash, potatoes and beets. And I can hardly wait for the 2011 season and the return of the 'greens'!! Not only have I been thrilled with the produce, eggs and bread, but the folks at GFF are some of the nicest people I have ever done business with. They are all about customer service and it is obvious they LOVE what they do, cause it shows! I have recommended GFF to many friends, and my co-workers enjoyed the peaches and apples I took to work to share throughout the summer! If you have been thinking about joining a CSA, Grant Family Farms is the one you want!! I LOVE my Farmer!!!

I am just completing my first season of the CSA experience with Grant Farms. I had shares of veggies, fruit, eggs, bread, mushrooms, and flowers.

Although we do have organic produce available in the local grocery store, I would look at the produce I was buying that came from South America and think, "Why am I buying food from a whole different continent?" When I discovered Grant Farms, and found out that they deliver weekly up to the mountains, I was so excited!

I'm an ovo-lacto-vegetarian. Having fresh, local, organic produce every week has been so wonderful. And my most favorite thing is the eggs. Compared to store-bought eggs, even the organic "cage-free" kind, the yolks are so much richer, the taste is fantastic, and I can be completely happy with the way the hens live. It just tickles me pink to read about the mobile hen houses, and how the hens are guarded as they roam freely outside by emus and alpacas. I am completely comfortable putting raw eggs from GFF into my morning smoothie. I would never do that with store-bought eggs.

The bread is some of the tastiest I've ever had. Nothing I can buy at the store comes close. And the flowers were a special treat to myself and totally worth getting.Some of the more delicate flowers would fade after a week, but quite a few of the flowers would last well into the second week.

Grant Farms is completely transparent about their operations. People can visit the farm any time and see firsthand how the food is grown and how the animals are living. The staff is so friendly and helpful, and they make you feel like you are part of the farm.

Due to my location (above 9000 feet) and work schedule, growing my own garden is not practical. Relying on someone else for the food we eat is one of the most sacred of trusts. I have complete confidence in the food I receive from GFF - quality, nutritional value, purity, humane treatment, local source, and certified organic. I recommend them 100%.

My only sadness, although I understand, is that they can't deliver to the mountains during the winter.

I am really looking forward to getting our CSA again this year. It is a great way to enjoy fresh delicious produce and feel a sense of security knowing the source of my vegetables. Last year was our first year. My husband (the chef) was working out of state for 6 months and by getting a weekly delivery of fresh vegetables it encouraged me to eat healthier and to cook more often. This year we are both here and have moved to the country. We will continue to receive a single share of veggies as well as plant our own small garden to supplement our share. We look forward to visiting Grants to see the farm in action!

Last year was the first year we signed up with a CSA. Grant Family Farms turned out to be the best decision I made last year! We signed up for a vegetable, fruit and egg shares. I learned to cook many new vegetables and our children couldn't wait to see what was in the share box every week. I never thought that my kids would be asking for more kale or eggplant! The fruit was delicious and we had so much of it. They even gave us apple cider a couple of times.

Coming from the suburbs my whole life, I never knew that eggs tasted so good! Fresh eggs from the farm are so delicious; they have so much flavor. We also ordered half a pig last fall and once again, I can't say enough about the flavor! My kids know when something doesn't come from the farm.

The vegetables and fruit from the farm have the greatest flavor and boy did everyone know when the season had ended by what came home from the store. Even though I purchase organic fruit and vegetables from the store, nothing tastes as good as what we got from the farm.

I also want to mention that Grant Family Farms has great customer service, are so helpful and kind, and send a great newsletter every week. It contains information about what you're getting in your share box, recipes, how to store it all and will even tell you what type of squash or green leaf you're getting. This is especially helpful when you're new to some of these vegetables.

This year we plan on visiting "the farm" as it's called in our family, so we can see where our food is coming from and meet all the wonderful people who work so hard to get it to us.

Thank you all at Grant Family Farms!! You're the best!

Last year was our first year with Grant Farms. We did a Small Family Share and a Fruit Share. Both were amazing - we got wonderful fresh veggies (some that we didn't know what they were, but that's another story) and fruit. Their weekly e-mail newsletters were full of helpful information and recipes. I had one complaint during the season, and they took care of it as soon as I let them know. In addition to providing great veggies and fruit, they understand the value of exceptional customer service! We just signed up for our 2010 share. I can't wait for the Spring veggies!

We have just signed up for our second year with the Grant Family Farms CSA. We get veggies, fruit, mushrooms and eggs! This is a truly amazing opportunity to help the local farmer, and know where your food is coming from. Everything from Grant Farms is amazing, and we couldn't be happier with our share. Thank you for all you do!

It is such a pleasure to sign up for my second season with Grant Famiy Farms.

Last year i started veggie and fruit shares on the recommendation of a friend. It has been an amazing experience! The organic produce is delightful. The Farm is inventive in their email communications. Weekly message have up to the moment info about deliveries, include great recipes, and bountiful ideas about the culture and specifics of farming.

This past growing season I was able to share the weekly deliveries with neighbors--this year those same neighbors are joining me in a purchase of shares together. While supporting local farming through a CASA, at the same time I found it to be a tremendous financial value.

The local vegetable shop and nursury was also pleased to be a Grant Family Farm delivery spot. It is just down the street in the neighborhood.

It feels good to be part of a group which fosters community, cares for the land, produces such delicious food, takes their work so seriously, and yet has so much fun doing it! Doesn't get much better than that.

We are looking forward to our first deliveries this late spring. I've enjoyed conversing with GFF CSA, they have quickly answered each inquiry. I spok with them today about whether or not their meat an poultry is truly family raised or if it comes from a "factory farm" Two good friends have raved about how wonderful their interaction has been as well as how delicious the produce, eggs and meats are. Kudos to Grant Family Farms I am definitely putting an order in while you still have special winter rates on shares.

2010 will be my 3rd year with Grant Farms CSA. The veggies are good. The extras are amazing. Wine, beer, a wreath!

I have had to learn to make a menu from the local veggies. It's different, but it ties us to the land and the climate.

Our 1st year with a veggie share was great. I was so surprised with the customer service. We drove less then a mile to pick up our share. I loved their web site and weekly emails with fun recipes and info on what was coming for the week. It felt very personal and made me feel closer to the employees and farm itself. I was surprised with the variety and my husband and I had three or four veggies we had never seen! Everything was always fresh and when the shares ended my teenagers asked me " this isn't from Grant Farms is it" she felt like she could really tell the difference. The more I read about helping local CSA's and especially local workers the more I think doing this is a great idea. I hope more and more Colorado residents will support CSA's. Looking forward to 2010.

This past summer my husband and I signed up for our first share with Grant Family Farms and we've just loved it! We have received a great variety of veggies and produce throughout the season. The greatest part has been experimenting and experiencing new, fresh, organic veggies! We were so thrilled we signed up for a Winter Share and for next summer as well! We love you, Grant Family Farms!!!

Hi Becky,

The leg of lamb was fabulous--absolutely scrumptious!!! But even more incredible than the lamb was your customer service... the fact that you personally delivered it to my house the day before Christmas was unprecedented. That type is customer service is practically non-existent these days... you saved my Christmas feast!! Thank you so much!!!

Warmest regards, Jeannine

We were first time members this year and were absolutely blown away. We had a full veggie share and a dozen eggs a week. We learned to love veggies we never even knew existed! We worked a couple of Saturdays at the farm which was a terrific experience for my "city kids". We got surprise treats along the way including a beautiful wreath that has my whole kitchen smelling of fresh pine. No issues what-so-ever and loved the weekly email update with funny insight and recipes. I had to buy veggies at the grocery store this week for the first time in months.....bummer! Can't recommend the wonderful folks at Grant farm enough..... we're converts for life!

When I told my now ex-boyfriend I wanted to sign up for a CSA share, he thought it was a terrible idea, that all you get is "a box of carrots one week and a box of lettuce the next." This was based on a friend's experience with a different farm.

It has been edibly delightful to prove him wrong, by doing nothing more than picking up my share each week. The variety can actually be a bit overwhelming at times.

I get a 1/2 pound of Hazel Dell Mushrooms, a fruit share, and a veggie share. I didn't know I love cabbage! I've overdosed on eggplant, and just bought a secondhand freezer for the 1/2 pastured pig that I shared with a friend. Next week I get a goat and a turkey!

A CSA share is food insurance at its best. This food is VITAL, so fresh you can still smell the field, and I feel good about how I am voting with my dollars.

In addition to saving money on my actual produce purchases, I am saving money by not eating out, because if I ate out, I wouldn't be able to use up my CSA share for the week!

What really sold me on Grant Farms, the reason I chose them specifically over any other farm for my CSA dollars, is the option to add ethical, pastured meats and/or eggs ala cart. These animals have had good, healthy, happy lives. They have fresh air, organic produce scraps, the opportunity to eat bugs and for the chickens - a guard Llama.

Thank you to everyone out at Grant Farms for working so hard to do it right.

What a treat to have fresh vegetables and awesome mushrooms every week! I used to live on Long Island in NY and grew my own vegetables. Big treat to come home from work and pick and eat a salad fresh from the garden. Living in Summit County at 9600' it is not possible to grow my own ... but to have fresh, organic produce every week (at least for 6 months) is a treat.

My girlfriend and I went with a small veggie, small egg, and small fruit share. It's a lot of food but we have been canning stuff and drying fruit. Whatever we can't eat we give away, it's still a bargain. This is the absolute best, healthiest, and most sustainable way to get your food, short of growing it yourself, period.

This is my first year participating in a CSA program. I didn't really know what to expect, but I was tired of trying to find fresh local produce in the stores. My parents shared a "Small Share" with my husband and I. With the wonderful bounty this year, it was just about the right amount. We pick our share up at the farm itself and often see people working hard in the fields. I wish there were some way we could thank them all! Everyone works so hard and all we have to do is pick up our box, transfer the contents, take it all home and wash it. A really small price to pay for food that tastes so much better because it is fresh! And when I think about how little we paid for it, all the more amazing. We could easily spend $30/week for the same organic produce in the store and we are getting it fresh for 30% less! Not only that, but we have found unexpected gifts in our boxes every now and then such as free eggs.

Grant Farms is also truly community oriented. Harvestival 2009 was a blast (even though a tad cold but that made it even more exciting), the farm tour in the Spring was fun, and Grant Farms' participation in the "Kickstands and Cornstalks" tour was a great idea (wish I could have gone to that one!)

Hello Conner, I've been meaning to get in touch with you for a while now, the turkey and chickens I received from you and the farm are just fantastic! My family and I BBQ'd the turkey a few Sundays ago. I smoked him long and slow and the taste was out of this world. The color of the meat was intense, my two kids were a little wary at first of the dark meat. Why is the meat purple? My husband and I explained to them, (boy-14, girl-12) this is the way it's supposed to look when they have a good life. I made stock the next day and the house smelled so good. Anyway, I want to thank you and all the staff at Grant Family Farms for all your hard work. My family and I appreciate everyone's time and commitment to the farm. We look forward to the summer of fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers. Joanne

My husband and I tried the Grant Family Local Harvest for the first time last year. It has been the best thing I have done for my family ever. We looked forward to our 'delivery' day with much anticipation. I know each year the variety is going to get better and better. This is what community is all about. We also signed up for the egg share - they are the best eggs we have ever had. We are very please with our decision to team up with Grant Family Farms.

Joining the Grant Family Farms CSA was everything I was hoping for and more. Honestly, I did not know what to expect when I signed up. I had never been a part of a CSA before. Being a single person I split a small share with a friend. This turned out to be plenty of vegetables, and I have signed up for the same size share this year. What I love about the CSA is that there is an abundance of the great vegetables I love at a price I can afford. If I were to try to buy these same organic vegetables at a grocery store, I would be spending a fortune. Another benefit is that I have no excuses not to eat healthier. It's just so easy when a variety of nutritious organic vegetables are showing up each week. Beets, numerous kinds of lettuce, spinach, kale (3 kinds), carrots (even some purple carrots), cauliflower, potatoes and the list goes on. This year the farm is adding even more variety, and I am looking forward to seeing what new things are in my box.

A final note: The kale is plentiful, and I love it! There really isn't a better vegetable for you. Eat your kale people!

When I first heard of the CSA program I made the assumption that this was something for large families, not for an apartment-dweller who lives on their own like myself. But then I heard some of my friends talking about it as well. So l did some research and learned that Grant Family Farms has a wide range of vegetable share options. I signed up for the small share and split it with a friend and had a great year full of fresh and varied produce. There were some vegetables I never even heard of and didn't know how to prepare some of them. But I learned that Grant Farms set up a blog online that the members use to share preparation techniques and recipe ideas. This was a great way to learn how to make some new dishes and diversify my kitchen.

All that being on the surface, there was something more meaningful about last year. I gained a better understanding of what it meant to join this program on three levels: On a national scale I was saving energy by not purchasing food that had traveled 1500 miles first before arriving at the grocery store; at the regional level I was supporting a local business thus helping my local economy; and on a personal note I was eating organic vegetables that are healthier for me.

I have most definitely signed up again for the upcoming growing season.

Last year 2008 I signed up for a share with Grant family farms. I recieved 26 weeks of the most delicious produce each week. At my hosts house my share was packed individually in a reusable plastic box color coded so i new which one was my share family size or small size. I transferred to my own resuable bags picked up my 1 dozen organic pasture raised eggs and went home.

My produce varied weekly based on what was in season and I was impressed by how much i got for my dollar. And how fresh it was picked one day in my hands usually the next. My lettuce would last more than a week. I am signed up for again this year and spreading the word. The amount of produce I get for my dollar and the freshness and its locally grown beats the grocery store.

I was excited to get different vegetables each week and always looked forward to my share.

Grant Family Farms You guys rock, thanks for being organic, local, and caring enough of our world to offer CSA.

I am the farmer and it pangs me to read about this person below that was so unhappy. (I just now read this several months after it was written) It is unfortunate that we don't have anyway to respond or know who this comes from either. But I can state that we have been overwhelmed with very postive emails and calls all winter. Our renewals are far exceeding our expectations so that is heartening that people liked what we did last year. It is hard enough just pulling farming off with out having folks critisizing your effort and work.

But addressing some of the comments of this writer:

'Selection was poor' - We grew over 70 different varieites of produce last year. This year I am taking that number to over 100. We will have over 8 varieites of tomatoes, 16 varieties of lettuce, 7 varites of summer squash, 5 varieties of carrots, 6 varietes of cucumbers, 7 varieites of peppers, cilantro, 2 kinds of parsley, 4 kind sof beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, 3 kinds of chards, Collards, Sweet Corn, Eggplant, 3 kinds of Kale, Leeks, Spring Onions, Sweet Onions, Red Onions, Snow, Snap and English Peas, Spinach, Pumpkins...ETC....as well we have 12 acres of fruit trees, 4 acres of raspberries and strawberries

Our farm had a horrific hailstorm that we informed all of our members the day after (August 14th and anyone interested I will be glad to share pictures if you will email me) We had 6 inches of hail on the ground a day later! Even though everyone that signs up agrees to they "understand the risks inherant with agriculture" With most CSAs this would have whiped the possibility of a harvest out. But our team really came together and replanted fields, cleaned crops to generate new leaves or fruits..........and got back on the beam and delivered FULL, generous boxes after a few weeks. Even the week of the hail we came up with good full boxes from product that wasn't fully demolished,....some had a scar or two ...or a ripped leaf but it was still good food. We did fully lose all of the tomatoes, peppers. After a month we had beautiful produce again and continued to the end.

'Honor system' Yes it is an honor system. We had VERY FEW issues ever.....and if something went wrong we made it right with that person! Including us taking people an extra box to their home. If people don't pick up during the scheduled pickup times our hosts were authorized to give the food to the food bank. Seems pretty right to me that the member is responsible to pick up at the right time. Personal repsponsibility.

'It is a rip off' - At the end of the year I calculated what the retail value of the produce that we gave over the course of the year. For our 'family share' I calculated that value of $1,166. We sold that same share for $720. A savings of of ~40% AND it was all organic, local and in most cases waaaaaay fresher than ANY store. And, it supports a local farm!!!! instead of trucked in product from California

As someone who grew up in Denver and saw the disappearance of little farms all over the state over the past few decades, I was grateful to find out about Grant Farms when I attended a presentation by a representative of the farm at the Denver Botanic Gardens in '08. I got together with friends to split a share and LOVED the flavor and quality of the produce week after week last season, and, since I live in an apartment, I have no garden of my own, so have signed up again for the '09 season. I don't understand that negative review, but assume it's probably the result of the (no doubt surprising for some folks) learning curve one must be willing to get on to change from a diet based on habit/convenience to one centered on and intimately connected with seasonal, locally grown produce. I have volunteered on a CSA (in NM) and know the hard work, but also the delight and dedication, involved in localizing the food economy and took a tour of the Grant Farm last year and was very impressed with everything I saw, from the happy chickens to the passion of Lewis Grant, the owner. I used to live near an 'egg farm' that made me never want to touch another egg or chicken, but the Grant farm showed me how raising food CAN be done in a MUCH more conscious manner than what most people take for granted is the system we're just stuck with. I'd encourage anyone to tour this or any other CSA to fuel your enthusiasm and inspiration for good, healthy food that tastes better and builds community. Bon apetit!!

I was surprised to read the very negative review on Grant's Farm CSA as I have had a totally different (and very positive) experience with my membership.

I have belonged for 2 years and have nothing but praise for the hard working folks with this CSA. Have there been occasional problems? Of course, but these guys work very hard to make everyone happy and to solve problems as they arise.

We are all trying to "do the right thing" with the CSA concept and the Grant's Farm folks are no exception. I think the program just keeps getting better. I shared a share with a co-worker both last year and this year. We got MORE food, MORE variety and for a longer period of time this year than last. And this is in spite of a terrible hailstorm mid season.

There have been a few times when some of the items have been less than perfect but I feel compensated by the other times when I have gotten more produce of highest quality.

If you think about what happens with your own garden, it only makes sense that everything is not going to be perfect all the time. And it only makes sense that if you are buying pesticide free produce you are goig to find an occasional insect in your food.

My feeling is that if you want pristine, picture perfect produce in the exact quantities you want in a given week - go to the grocery store and buy stuff that is sprayed with heaven knows what, comes from heaven knows where and was picked heaven knows when. If you want real food grown safely and with love and dedication, join Grant's Farm CSA. Linda Helm

We made the mistake of signing up for their CSA this year, and will NEVER do that again.

The selection is poor (do YOU eat 4 different kinds of lettuce a week?)

The quality isn't great, the broccoli is inedible.

Worst of all, it is run on "the honor system," which means if you don't get there early, you don't get ANYTHING, even though you paid for it. And they act like that's somehow not their responsibility.

How would you like it if your bank ran on an Honor System? "Don't take out more than you put in, or somebody else will lose what they put in..."

In short, it's a RIP OFF!