Comment
We agree with this reviewer...at least on the QUALITY of produce. I too think this CSA has grown too large to really have adequate controls over the quality of the produce that they distribute to their CSA members. It pains me to say this, but we have had similar issues- poor quality of produce (some things have literally gone from the pick-up site straight to the compost bin, which is a SHAME)!! Last week the carrots we received were so limp (with black spots) that they went straight to the compost bin (same goes for some tomatoes, as well as corn). Often times it does feel like the CSA members get the leftovers that weren't fit to sell to the grocery store. The salad greens are usually high quality (as well as the spinach). We have enjoyed our egg share as well. The fruit share has also been disappointing- the peaches last week were so terrible that they were also composted. Some fruit items have been good- like the pie cherries, and cherry wine (yum). The apples so far have been good. Some things are good, but some things are terrible (which for the price you pay you expect to be delivered farm fresh produce). Sad to say we will not be renewing our membership for next year- I'm going to find a much smaller farm that has better quality controls because this CSA (which I love to support) has been a disappointment. This is just an honest assessment- I truly support their mission and hope they improve or limit their CSA shares to a number that they can adequately serve with high quality items...
Comment
This reviewer is not telling the truth. No member is required to do a working stint unless they sign up for a working share. I have been a member for 4 years and have NEVER been told we get the leftovers. I have NEVER gotten rotten food even though I live quite a ways away from Wellington. Grant farms is COMMUNITY oriented. It goes both ways. They help the subscriber as much as we help them by subscribing.
Comment
In advance aplogies, I wrote this with paragraphs, but it looks like it takes them out. So this a lot all in one big, long blob. I hope you will take the time to read. I was saddened to read that these members were so unhappy with the CSA. As a lifelong farmer I and the team here joins in wanting our members to be happy. There is a lot of wheels that turn to get all the variety picked, packed, on the right truck and to the delivery location. We are farmers first and we are learning how to do the ditribution. But ALWAYS when someone is unhappy with anything we will immeadiately make it right with them.. My first comment will be on quality. As the one that started the CSA and has EVERY week decided what gets picked and packed into the box, I know that we have actually improved the quality and variety which we put in the boxes. We pick daily and put the SAME products in our boxes as what we send to Whole Foods or King Soopers....so the CSA boxes should be even fresher because of no delay of distribution. I fully believe this writers assesment as being her experience, but I wonder if there is something in play here (like the boxes sittting in a pickup location too long in the summer before pickup.....thus wilting all the veggies down) We have been trying to narrow that window......sometimes we would deliver in the morning..............but not have pickup till later in the afternoon. 2nd, our newsletter has never said 'that is part of the deal' We would never say something like this because we don't even think that way or pack our boxes that way. This writer or anyone is welcome to visit and watch the hard work and great produce packed every day. 3rd, this pickup location requirment is news to us. We don't have any such policy or request of our members. We don't make our members work unless they want to. We have 300 working members that CHOOSE to work on the farm.....but they then get a discount on their share. I wonder if there is something at play from the pickup host that we are not aware of (we depend on our hosts to make this whole thing work) Sometimes these voluteer hosts do things we are aware of,l but we are grateful that they volunteer their space and time to host. 4th, you say 'the last year you were a member' and that 2 out of her 4 years were a disspointment. First of all if she is referrning to her membership in 2010 that was only the 3rd year of our CSA. In 2010 it was a TERIBLE tomato year (the last year this writer was a member) .........very late rainy cold weather early. In 2011, we harvested and gave our members over 200,000 lbs of tomatoes. This averaged almost 50 lbs per member (single shares much less, family shares much more) Out of 14 vareties, 4 were heirloom tomatoes. We intend to grow more herilooms in the future as we learn better how to do it. Colorado is NOT the greatest climate for tomatoes.........but great for greens and lettuce. Also, we grow over 150 varieties ...one cannot expect that in this climate each and every crop is going to be perfect every year 5th The judgement of grown 'too big' How would these writers have any information on this . What is the understanding of how farms in this Country work to deem us too big. We in fact have grown smaller the last 4 years as we developed the CSA and are trying to get away from the more commerical world of produce which smaller farms like ours have NO chance at survial in a consolidated marketplace. Also, what is too big. Our CSA doesn't equal the sales of even ONE QUARTER of the sale of ONE King Sooper store. Our farm tries very hard to do the impossible of grow a wide range of fruits and vegetables in a very harsh climate. Please give us credit that we are one of only a 1/3r of vegetable farms that are even left compared to 25 years ago in Colorado. We also have developed well paying jobs WITH health benefits. I am quite sure the vision of how small a farm should be would not be able to afford its employees either. I can summize the CSA you talk about and they are really great people.......I admire what they do. But you cant comare our farm (and payroll) to their farm that is 2 people and a couple of acres. Picking and chosing at farmers market is a completely different experience that what we do. I do know that if it hails, which it did on several this year, the members would have virtually nothing as they farm a few acres, where our farm is spread out over many miles north of Ft. Collins. So if there is bad weather there is a much better chance we will still be able to put together boxes each week. Several smaller CSA's actually bought produce from us to fulfill their commitments this year. Two years ago when Happy Heart (oldest CSA in Colorado) got hailed out, 3 times, we offered to share our fields with them and they picked for 5 weeks at NO charge by us for their members. I also would like to share that my farm has donated over 1 million pounds of produce to the food banks in the past few years. Just 2 weeks ago our members helped harvest over 100,000 lbs of Potatoes that we grew JUST for the food banks. My point is that there are some very good benefits to our community from our 58 year old family farm. And unlike smaller farms can offer our employees decent paying jobs with benefits. The fruit share that is reffered to is also a very good CSA, good farmer that is super nice. But I will also point out that ours has a ton more variety than any others and is MUCH more generous than any other in what we give. On a per pound basis I know that our fruit share is the best price and amount. The start was slow because of the cherries being frozen out...but found other Colorado organic products to bridge...like cider, wine and applesauce. there was a comment about the bad peaches...we gave peaches for 8 weeks, were they always bad? Did you contact us so we could make that one week up to you by bringing you fresh ones? We do that! If something isn't right, we will make it right with you! The last line is saddening to hear......these are anonymous hits. Famers try very hard, especially us.....we need our communiities support us, not give harsh judgements. I would instead prefer to talk to you directly instead of venting your judgements on line with out the ablity to fact check or give me the chance to attempt to answer. My email is Andy@Grantfarms.com AND I invite either of these writers (or others with question to come, watch how we pack, see what the product looks like in comparison to the prouduct we sell to the stores. You will see we never put 'leftovers' in our shares. Lastly, in such a polarized Country, do we really have to slam someone to hold another in esteem? Why do we take shots of the one in life that tries something that is different or larger than their perspective. Where there are so few farmers even left, even when we fall short....people should atleast give us the beniefit of the doubt how much we try. Why does the main writer so passionatly state her opinion and judgement of us................although she hasn't even been a member this year to see what we are doing, and support ALL farms in Colorado that have the sprit to grow food for our community