FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
- I’m new to the Farm Box program, what do I need to know before registering?
- How do I register?
- Can I pay by check?
- Can I purchase only a “Food Lovers” box?
- Will I save money?
- When does the next season begin and how long does it last?
- When do I need to register and purchase my Farm Box?
- What if I go on vacation during the delivery season?
- Are the ingredients in the farm box washed?
- Can I share a box with a friend?
- May I change my pick up location occasionally?
- What if I forget to pickup my farm box?
- What are some things I can expect in my farm boxes?
- How can I stay updated during the CSA season?
I’m new to having a weekly Farm Box, so what do I need to know before registering?
- When you register for CSA, you acknowledge that you are making an agreement with your farmers to grow food for you for the length of the spring/summer season. Once deliveries begin we do not make refunds on CSA shares.
- If you order a CSA share and find that it’s too small to fit your needs, we will be happy to move you up to the next size and adjust the price. Once deliveries begin, CSA shares cannot be downsized.
How do I register?
- First, go to the registration page. Pricing for all of our different Farm Boxes can be found there.
- Click “My Account.” If this is your first time visiting the online store, click the “Create an account” button. If you already have an online account, enter your login information and login to your account.
- Return to the store page to view available boxes available for you to purchase. Select the items you wish to purchase and click “Add to Cart.” Be sure click on the link that tells you to print out a copy of the CSA Guidelines! (it is in red text)
- When you are ready to purchase, click the checkout button. Follow the step by step directions provided at checkout. If you were a member in 2023, don’t forget to use your loyalty discount code at checkout.
- If you would like Home Delivery, check with the farm before registering to see if you are within our delivery area. If you are in our delivery area, there is a one time fee of $270 which will be added to your order.
- If you will be picking up your farm box at one of our approved workplace pick up locations, please include the name of your workplace in the “Company Name” field under the billing address. Email us and we will help if you have trouble getting registered . (drf@hughes.net)
How do I pay for my CSA share?
You can pay for your CSA farm box by check, or by using a major credit card. You are not charged a service fee for using your credit card to pay in full for your CSA share
Using a Credit Card for Payment? If the credit card you use to register should change in any way, (expires, name change, fraudulent use etc) please notify the farm immediately so your credit card payment won’t be affected.
Can I purchase any or all of the “Food Lovers” boxes without purchasing a Large, Medium or Small CSA share?
The Food Lover’s Shares (Tomato shares, Fruit shares and Combo shares are available only to those that purchase either a Small, Medium or Large CSA share). These specialty shares are often limited in supply.
We comparison shop at both Fresh Market and Publix throughout the CSA season. By comparison, our CSA prices are consistently better, and our food has “home grown, fresh from the farm” flavor that cannot be duplicated. Local food means fresh food. Our saying here on the farm is “if it ain’t local – it ain’t fresh!
When does the next season begin and how long does it last?
The 2024 spring/summer delivery season begins the second or third week in May depending on when our first harvest that will fill everyone’s share, is ready. This year the season is an 18 week season. The end date depends on whether we can begin the second week in May vs. the third week. We will start as early as we can. Updates on our first delivery day will be on the home page of our website. Your first delivery day depends on which location you have chosen as your pick up site. Email or call us if you have a question about where and when to pick up your shares.
When do I need to register and purchase my Farm Box?
The earlier you register the more benefits you receive!
- Reserve your share early in order to choose your favorite pick up location.
- Food Lover’s shares are popular and limited. Signing up early assures you of getting one.
- If you’d like home delivery, those slots fill quickly. Early last season, we filled up all our slots.
- Please note: For the 2024 season which will be our 19th year of CSA, we have made the decision to limit the CSA season to 18 weeks. In addition, we will be cutting back on the number of registrations we can accept.
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What if I go on vacation during the delivery season?
You have options for receiving credit for two weeks of missed shares due to vacation or travel during the summer season, with a 48 hr. notice by email to the farm. We will confirm your request a few days prior to your normal delivery day. You will find the options listed in a link to your CSA Guidelines – which are emailed to you a few days before the first delivery of the 2024 season, in a newsletter. Please become familiar with your Guidelines.
Do you offer Home Delivery?
Yes! Our Home Delivery Service is ideal if you are a busy Mom that’s always on the “go” with the kids, a professional with a busy lifestyle, or you simply want the convenience of not leaving the house to pick up your farm box! Our delivery charge is reasonable and you do not need to be home when your delivery is made.
Are the ingredients in the boxes washed?
Everything in your share has been rinsed when harvested to remove field heat, then we place crops in refrigerated, temperature controlled walk in coolers to preserve the freshness of your share. We do not deliver soil laden veggies to you. However, the food is NOT table ready, which simply means that you should always wash it before serving. Everything in your share is minimally handled, packed carefully, and delivered in refrigerated vehicles to assure freshness.
Can I share a box with a friend?
Sure, but if you choose to split a box we ask you to bring a tote bag to divide up the share at your car after pulling out of the drive-through pick up line. Dividing up your box at the car, minimizes confusion when other members are picking up their boxes. Some shareholders that are single, or seniors for example, go together to split a Medium farm box and one or both then supplements by adding on a Tomato Share or a Fruit Share. Both of these add on shares are very popular with our Shareholders and because of this, we suggest ordering them when you register for CSA. You may order them later, but they may not be available at that time.
May I change my pick up location occasionally?
Yes, you may pick up your box at another pick up location occasionally. A 48 hour notice by email prior to your scheduled delivery day, is required. We will send you a confirmation by email a couple of days before your change is to take place, to let you know we received your request. A confirmation is necessary. PLEASE, don’t give this request to your coordinator or your driver – we make the changes here at the farm to avoid mix ups.
What if I forget to pick up my Farm Box?
You are responsible for advising the farm by email prior to your delivery day, if you will not be picking up your share. If we pack a share for you and put it in the van for delivery, if you do not pick it up, your share will be considered forfeited. There is no credit given for forfeited shares.
If you have a last minute emergency on your way to pick up your share:
(1) Call your coordinator right away (their name will be on the website along with their contact information) Explain your situation, and they will help you if possible while they are still at the pick up location.
(2) If they have left your pick up location once pick up is over, your share will have been donated to a food pantry or an individual, at the Coordinator’s disgression. Your share will not be wasted. We do not bring shares back to the farm once we have delivered shares for the day.
(3) As an alternative to the above, call a friend, co-worker or neighbor to help out by picking up your share for you that day.
Please, put the phone number of your Coordinator and your driver in your phone. If you can’t reach them or don’t have their number, call us at 931-625-2651.
What can I expect in my Farm Boxes and how much produce is in a box?
There is no set amount of items or contents weight that you might expect each week of the season. Being a farm, we put in what is harvested for your delivery day. Some vegetables grown are bigger and weigh more than others. (for example, melons vs. blueberries in summertime) Some vegetable varieties are of a higher dollar value for example, English peas vs.carrots or turnips, but their weight is less. What you can expect in a weekly box is six to eight different kinds of fresh vegetables in variable amounts. Seasonal fruit or berries when they are in season and we have an ample supply will also be in your share, plus freshly harvested produce. Members purchasing add on shares of Tomatoes, Fruit, or Combo shares get first dibs on items in these shares.
Here are a few of the crops that we plan to have in your share during spring and summer: Tomatoes, sweet Corn, English peas, broccoli, cauliflower, green onions, carrots, lettuce, kohlrabi, cantaloupe okra, bulb onions, cucumbers, zucchini, radishes, garlic, summer squash, Irish potatoes, redskin potatoes, beets, spicy and sweet peppers, bell peppers, kale, turnips and more.
Until our new website is functioning, to stay updated during the season, on the left side of this page there is a green tab with the word “Updates” on it. Click on the tab for the most up to date information. Be on the lookout also for your emails from Doe Run Farms. We will be keeping you “in the loop”!