CSA vs. TPB: How do they compare?

By -
Guest post from a TPB Neighborhood Coordinator

A few years ago, I thought being a part of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program was the best way to source my family's fresh food. 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. It wasn't until a couple of years later that I joined The Produce Box and realized how much it operated like a CSA, but worked much better for my family.

Wondering how they compare? Check this out:
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. Paying a small enrollment fee with The Produce Box and then only when you order (every week, every other week - whatever works for you!) for a Box is much more accessible, but still directly supports our farmers and guarantees a customer for their products.
Crops. A typical CSA often consists of one farm, which limits crop diversity. The Produce Box, 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 my 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, The Produce Box 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 up front 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 The Produce Box, you pay only for the weeks you want to order.

Cutting out the trip to pick up a box is also a big plus: The Produce Box brings it to your door, delivered by awesome moms who will put the Box into your hands or happily transfer everything to a cooler that will keep items fresh until you get home.

In many ways, The Produce Box feels like a CSA, but it’s easier and more accessible for us, the happy consumer!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LOCAL LOVE February Giveaway!

By -
Image
Cold and snow, then rain and muggy... we're dreaming of summer already!  And those summer berries! Well dream no more!  As part of our February LOCAL LOVE giveaways, we have 3 jars of TPB BLUEBERRY JAM for 3 lucky TPB members! SImply leave a comment on this blog post with your best guess on HOW MANY varieties of blueberries can be grown in North Carolina... we'll pick 3 winners at 5 pm tomorrow to get our JAM in their next Produce Box!
Read more

The Produce Box vs. The Produce Aisle

By -
Image
If you’re trying to decide if a Produce Box membership is for you, you may be wondering, “Can’t I get this stuff at the grocery store? And is it cheaper there?” Well, the answer to both those questions would be sometimes. The grocery store doesn’t always have everything the farmers of North Carolina can offer.  And sometimes, you may not like the reasons WHY the grocery store is cheaper. Farmers make pennies per pound from the grocery stores, and they often have to wait 30-60 days (or MORE!) to get their payment. At The Produce Box, we pay every single one of our farmers when they deliver the food to us.  In addition to this, the produce at the grocery stores often comes from across the country (1500 miles on average!) or even other countries, and has traveled for days or weeks to get to you -- it's definitely not the most fresh choice or LOCAL by any means! Keep in mind, too, that by buying from us, you’re also supporting their effort to DO GOOD in our communit...
Read more

Recipe Redo - Chicken Enchiladas

By -
Image
Guest post from our friend (and member!) Kate at  Life of A Ginger This week my Produce Box delivery contained Cara Cara Red Flesh Navel Oranges (our favorite variety), Mixed-Organic Salad Greens,   Joyce Farms Naked Chicken  Breast Tenders, zucchini, yellow squash, vine ripe tomatoes, and avocados. Plus, two small bags of my all time FAVORITE chips, made right here in North Carolina,  Carolina Kettle Cozumel Jalapeno Queso Kettle Chips .  They are so good I have to lock them away from my husband and kids! (Want to join The Produce Box? Click here and then read on!) My family and I have been on a real health-kick the past few weeks (except for my small Carolina Kettle chip habit). I’ve been replacing a lot of carbs like pasta and rice for steamed or roasted vegetables. We have been eating a lot more vegetable-laden salads, and cutting out items like juice, sugary cereal, and desserts. But I’ve been avoiding cooking a family favorite, Te...
Read more