We were thinking about participating in a local CSA, and was wondering if anyone here had any experience with them. This particular one has meat packages and produce packages, for both it would be $1,700 for the year (meat and eggs pick up every 2 weeks, produce every week). Does this sound like a good deal? What do you ladies think?
That doesn't seem too bad to me.
We do just an organic produce one we do a half order and pick up every other week. We pay $24.50 every other week. So about $50 a month. We have been doing it for 2 months and are very happy with it. I wish there was one for meat and eggs around here!
That sounds like it is probably a good deal. I pay $30 every two weeks for a large box of produce - no meat or eggs. So that's $780 per year. You're getting double the produce plus meat and eggs. Sounds like it is probably worth it. Just make sure it's in line with how much you'd spend on groceries anyway so you're not spending significantly more than usual.
They are generally fantastic! Try to find some neighbors or friends who use the one you're thinking of, so you can get their feedback. The ones around us post what veggies and fruits you'll be getting, so you can see the amounts and types of things you can expect before joining. We also have one I love that you can do by the week. The meat ones are usually great deals -especially for all-natural, organic, free-range/grass-fed types of meat.
We do an organic veggie CSA over the summer -- I LOVE getting the fresh local veggies -- they taste so much better than the ones at the supermarket. Ours costs a bit over 500 for the summer, running from mid June to the beginning of October.
I have done a CSA for 3 years and really like it. It is produce only with occasional eggs. We pay about $450 for 22 weeks. If I shopped religiously at the local farmer's markets I would probably spend a bit less. Is yours year round for meat and eggs? Organic or just local? Also do you have a feel for how much meat you would be getting?
We have Bountiful Baskets in our area and we're loving it! It costs $15 for a basket of fruit & veg every 2 weeks. The quality and quantity is really wonderful. Also, we choose when/if we participate every 2 weeks. They also do extras like granola, 9 grain bread and large boxes of misc fruit or veg. Check them out to see if they have one available in your area.
We do. Here's the link to the one we use http://www.fullcircle.com/ though we're about 3,000 miles too far away, it's a good way to look.
We pay $36 dollars every other week or every week (depending on whether we want deliver every week or every other week)... which comes out to around either 900 or 1800 per year. It's EXACTLY the same price as if I was buying the fruit/veg from the store (I compared the box contents in their sample orders to what I already paid in store) for our area. In the 2 most popular CSAs locally one can change their order contents online (ex substituting peaches for grapes or chard). We have a list of 12-18 items and then another list of 12-18 substitutes. Ours is produce only (fruit and veg). Meat/Dairy/Egg prices in our area are through the roof ($10 per pound for lunch meat, $5 for hamburger, $15-20 for steak....milk is $4 per half gallon or $8 per gallon...etc.). I've yet to come across a local CSA that does meat/dairy/eggs... although there are several resources of buying 1/8th a cow, or having milk delivered... they're just not part of the CSAs around here.
Our CSA one pays on a weekly basis and can stop/start/suspend at will (ex going on vacation, or money is a little tight this week or month).
I helped with the angelfood program. You pick up boxes at church sites every month. It was cheaper than the grocery store, though you could not make subsitutions.
We also helped at a food bank a few years ago. Everything cost 25 cents per pound including diapers, cans, meet, frozen cakes from walmart, etc...
That was the best deal, but you had to qualify. The other thing is that you never knew what they would have in stock that day.
