How is local pumpkin like a CSA?
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. In a normal CSA setup, It’s a great way to support a local food system: invest in the farm at the start of the growing season and get a weekly share of the crops throughout the harvest. Cathy did this one year, but you had to pickup at a location and couldn’t make any changes.
When we started Local Pumpkin, we wanted to provide a service that makes it easier for a family to use.
Cost. While the cost for the whole season is comparable, a CSA requires a hefty payment at the beginning of the season (or several large payments spread out over the season) to help the farmers procure, implement, and maintain everything they need for the year's crops. At Local Pumpkin (every week, every other week or whatever works for you!) a Box is much more accessible, but still directly supports our local farmers and guarantees a customer for their products.
Crops. A typical CSA often consists of one farm, which limits crop diversity. Local Pumpkin, however, partners with a network of farms, allowing for a greater selection of fruits and veggies throughout the changing seasons. More variety offers more appeal to your family.
With a CSA, you also run the risk of not getting any of a particular crop because of harsh weather or unforeseen event that devastates a small farm. Yes, Local Pumpkin does occasionally have to substitute an item at the last minute. But the Boxes are still getting satisfyingly filled, thanks to a large network of farms with tasty available standbys.
Getting those veggies home! With a CSA, you pay upfront for the growing season and are guaranteed a box every week. If you aren't able to drive out to the farm for weekly pick-up or you’re out of town, you lose out. With Local Pumpkin, you pay only for the weeks you want to order.
Cutting out the trip to pick up a box is also a big plus: Local Pumpkin brings it to your door, delivered by awesome drivers who will put the Box on your porch or happily drop your box into a cooler that will keep items fresh until you get home.
