What's the difference?
Giamarese Farm will use a prepaid card for the 2017 CSA
Giamarese Farm started its own weekly CSA program in 2013. CSA models can vary considerably and for the first four years, we offered a fairly common weekly format of boxing up a selection of our seasonal crops into different sized shares. We started with two share sizes, Full & Half and in 2015 we added the smallest Personal Share. There were only two pick-up days to choose from and members had to select one day or the other. Members would arrive on the same day of the week between set hours, each week, for a set number of weeks. Members were not able to choose what would be in their share box.
Price Flexibility
Our traditional CSA required members to choose between three preset share sizes and pay the full amount in the beginning of the season.
The 2017 prepaid CSA Card allows members to decide the amount that is right for them and load that value onto a prepaid card. Members who invest early in the year receive a larger discount on their prepaid card purchase. A member who loads $500 onto their prepaid card early enough and receives an 8% discount will only pay $460 but will still have $500 to spend. CSA Cards may be reloaded throughout the season.
The 2017 prepaid CSA Card allows members to decide the amount that is right for them and load that value onto a prepaid card. Members who invest early in the year receive a larger discount on their prepaid card purchase. A member who loads $500 onto their prepaid card early enough and receives an 8% discount will only pay $460 but will still have $500 to spend. CSA Cards may be reloaded throughout the season.
Time Restraints
Our traditional CSA was conducted a set number of weeks during the season, mostly during the summer months. Folks who vacation often during the summer might find it difficult to be a member as they would miss many of their weekly shares that they already paid for. There were only two pick-up days per week and members had to select only one of those to be their weekly pick-up day. The pick-up hours were also a hindrance to some who worked during the day during the week and were not able to make it to the farm during pick-up hours.
The 2017 prepaid CSA Card may be used any day and time that we are open throughout the entire 2017 season, including weekends, from opening day in late April / early May until Christmas Eve (including our Fall Harvest Season).
The 2017 prepaid CSA Card may be used any day and time that we are open throughout the entire 2017 season, including weekends, from opening day in late April / early May until Christmas Eve (including our Fall Harvest Season).
Selection
Our traditional CSA featured a selection of our crops that were picked fresh each week. Each particular share size would contain roughly the same amount & variety of produce for that week. Members were not able to choose what crops would be in their share or the quantity of each crop or the variety in their box. Plus, different seasons bring considerably different crops. Lettuce is plentiful in the spring, though not always everyone's favorite. Flowers from our greenhouse are also abundant in the spring and a boon to some folks, but members who do not have gardens or who live in apartments might find little use for them. The fall harvest brings a challenging array of produce that is the favorite of some members but unappealing to others.
The 2017 prepaid CSA Card allows members to choose the quantity and variety of produce they prefer any time throughout the season, however often they want. Additionally, the prepaid card may be used on any product we sell such as Pick-Your-Own fruits & veggies, specialty items in our farm market and seasonal items such as greenhouse products, Fall Harvest products, pumpkins, our corn maze & hayride tours, straw bales, mums, Thanksgiving pies, Christmas trees & accessories and more (subject to availability, weather and other factors beyond our control). The prepaid CSA Card must be used at credit card terminals owned by Giamarese Farm & Orchards and cannot be used at third party vendors such as food vendors, bake sales, pony rides, face painting, etc.
The 2017 prepaid CSA Card allows members to choose the quantity and variety of produce they prefer any time throughout the season, however often they want. Additionally, the prepaid card may be used on any product we sell such as Pick-Your-Own fruits & veggies, specialty items in our farm market and seasonal items such as greenhouse products, Fall Harvest products, pumpkins, our corn maze & hayride tours, straw bales, mums, Thanksgiving pies, Christmas trees & accessories and more (subject to availability, weather and other factors beyond our control). The prepaid CSA Card must be used at credit card terminals owned by Giamarese Farm & Orchards and cannot be used at third party vendors such as food vendors, bake sales, pony rides, face painting, etc.