As we've mentioned, the delivery CSA has been a great addition to the farm mix for the past two years. We like being able to reach new audiences and develop relationships with local companies. One of the challenges, however, has been figuring out the best way to package the shares. At the farmers' market and the on-farm CSA pick-up, people generally bring their own bags, though of course we always have extras. For the deliveries, though, we need something that can hold a whole share (which can be quite bulky and heavy, especially in the fall when squashes and roots become prevalent), and something that can be packed and labeled easily.
Last year we used waxed produce boxes, a rotating pair per person, which worked fairly well - but that does put the burden on the customer to remember them each week, and presents a challenge if they don't. For the Stick Season shares, we're currently using large biodegradable plastic bags, which solve the problem of needing to collect them weekly, but introduce the problem of using a lot of plastic bags. We've talked about using canvas shopping bags, but then we have the same bringing-them-back issue. It's a question we keep working on – let us know if you have any ideas!
Last year we used waxed produce boxes, a rotating pair per person, which worked fairly well - but that does put the burden on the customer to remember them each week, and presents a challenge if they don't. For the Stick Season shares, we're currently using large biodegradable plastic bags, which solve the problem of needing to collect them weekly, but introduce the problem of using a lot of plastic bags. We've talked about using canvas shopping bags, but then we have the same bringing-them-back issue. It's a question we keep working on – let us know if you have any ideas!
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