Response: Irvington CSA Questions and Concerns

I appreciated Mary's post on the extras. As she opens most of the email due to special orders, she's the one who seems to get the slack. I, too, have been hearing some complaints. I started the following post last weekend but I hadn't yet finished it for posting. I'm throwing it out there, though incomplete, to add my two cents on the matter. Brevity is not my strength. But the following should add insight to these concerns. -- Christopher

Good day, All. I hope you are well.

The irvingtonagriculture@gmail.com inbox has had some recent member concerns that I thought I should attempt to address. I appreciate those sharing concerns, and I'm happy to respond. Please note some recent questions and related responses from me below. I'm including, too, responses to concerns I've heard or answered at pick-up.

Please note that the responses are mine and are based on my understanding/opinion on the issues raised, and the questions are presented by me in such a way to aggregate several statements and questions and to present them clearly. I do not in any way attempt to represent the understandings/opinions of the other coordinating committee members, our farmer, or our trucker. I'm happy to connect you with those folks if you have further concern or if you find my responses inadequate or otherwise frustrating.

We aren't getting enough in our share. How are quantities determined?

Quantities are determined and packed by the Levi Fisher family. When the truck arrives, we learn exactly what and at what quantity each share will include for the week. I understand that the vegetables included and the quantities of each are determined by many factors, including weather, crop success or failure, crop readiness, and value.

While most seem to understand other crop circumstances, I see a lot of concern when it comes to crop value. I know that Levi and his family work hard to provide a fair value for the money paid for each share. I assume there is some balance, though, to their work. In my conversations with Levi and his family, I've personally seen that they are very aware of the value of items provided and strive to make your experience in the CSA a good one, especially from a value standpoint.

My family has belonged to a Fisher CSA for three years, first as a half-share holder in the Avon group and for the past two years as full-share holders in Irvington. To be sure, we've seen ebbs and flows in crops and quantities, but we've yet to feel that we aren't getting proper value for our money. Quite the contrary, actually. We've felt quite blessed -- sometimes even burdened -- by the quantities.

I understand not all shareholders will have the same experience. Please know that we're doing our best to make the experience the best it can be for you. If you feel you aren't getting a good value, I respectfully submit the following:

• Every week this year we've had extras. The farmer often miscounts items in packing. Other shareholders will leave items they don't want. Shareholders will surrender their shares (we had 8 surrenders last week). I've mentioned several times, including in the registration materials and on this blog, that you are welcome to stop by at 3 p.m. to claim those extras. Just last week, shareholders who stopped in walked away with one or more extra shares! I got two. Extras are usually here. Stop by and help us get rid of them.
• Remember that your payment was for more than just the vegetables. The farm is quite a way from Irvington, and we pay a lot to get the food here. Further, some of your payment was for supplies and such used at the pick-up site. The farmer's portion of your share's payment was $520 or $20.80 per week. Organically grown produce sold at groceries would easily cost more for the same items included in your weekly share. Sure, there are lighter weeks. But remember those summer weeks when we left with 2 or 3 grocery bags? More on costs below because we've had a lot of questions on that.
• Shop comparatively. In considering your participation next year you might look at other CSA's and their set-ups. There are certainly others out there. I will note that some on our waiting list have experienced other local CSA's and are fighting to get into ours. But I'm sure there are some good ones out there.
• Talk to the farmer. One of the glories of CSA living is that you can know your growers, distributors, etc. Call the farmer. Visit the farm. Learn about his methods. Ask him how he makes choices on the quantities. I think you'll find Levi and his family delightful and more than willing to hear your concerns.
• Talk with us and other shareholders. Use the forum to start a discussion. See if others are feeling the same way. Maybe you're on to something that should be changed...
• Join next year's planning committee and influence the project. We could always use more help and new perspectives.
  

How is our fee used? Who's getting paid here?

I've seen a lot on this question. Your $614 fee is three-part as follows:

• $520 to the farmer. As mentioned earlier, that's $20.80 per week.
• $89 for transportation.
  
• $5 for supplies and misc. For bags, pens, markers, magnet paper, printer ink, you name it. Note that I am personally billed for extras ordered, and I have shareholders forget or refuse to claim (or pay for) items they ordered every week. I use this $5 fund to help cover some of those expenses, too.

Your committee is entirely volunteer and is not paid. The farmer does provide two free shares to the host of the Irvington group (that's me). This year, those free shares are distributed as follows:

• One-half share goes to my family. We paid for the other half of our full share.
• One and one-half shares go to families who may not have been able to afford participation this year. Your committee chose those families.

I heard farmer Levi's produce is available in groceries, farmer's markets, and other places. Didn't I pay for that produce already?

Yes. Levi and his family supply other places. They have CSA projects in Irvington, Lafayette, Avon, Westfield, and Terre Haute. They supply Wild Oats with some items. They supply some (fantastic) local restaurants, including one owned by an Irvington shareholder. They even have a vegetable stand in their yard.

No. We as shareholders haven't paid for the items sent to those places. We paid for shares, not the whole crop. We should expect the farm to earn revenue in other ways outside of this CSA.

Why are there so many extras for sale? Didn't I pay for those already?

The extras can get a little complicated. There are many reasons for there being items on the extras that aren't in your share. The most significant one is that not all extra items come from Levi's farm. All of the items included in our shares come from his farm. Other circumstances include crops not producing enough for all shares and other things. The farmer can answer all questions on the extras, and he'll be open to dialogue with you if you choose.