CSA (Harvest Box Program)
Eat the freshest organic fruits and veggies. All. Season. Long.
CSA stands for
Community Supported Agriculture
It’s an opportunity for YOU to have a share in the amazing food that we, your local farmers, are growing.
Our CSA is a program connects CSA members directly to the farmers at Pilgrims’ Produce. Generally, the members pay upfront for their full season share and commit to a season (or all three). The farmer then provides the freshest and best quality produce directly to the members. There is a real relationship that both parties share, one which has been lost in our modern agriculture system, the relationship from our field to your home.
- The freshest, organic veg & fruits, fine herbs & nuts, in season.
- We grow a HUGE selection of produce.
- Everything’s grown on our family-run farm at Pilgrims’ Produce near Armstrong (aka:local)
- + Weekly newsletters with photos, inspiring recipes, farm news + more.
- Great value, member perks, convenience.
What’s in the weekly box?
Sample Boxes:
Basic Box in June
Family Box in June
Sugar snap peas+, baby potatoes, gourmet salad mix+, pint of strawberries+, green onions, dill
Basic Box in August
Family Box in August
Plums+, gourmet salad mix+, assorted tomatoes+, peppers+, watermelon+, salad turnips, cucumber, cilantro
Basic Box in September
Family Box in September
Carrots+, Spaghetti Squash+, Melon+, Onion+, Radish, Parsley, Cherry Tomatoes+, Zucchini
How does CSA work?
-Pick up day is TUESDAY!
-Choose your location: Pilgrims’ Produce farm (Armstrong) OR in Vernon at the Vernon Alliance Church parking lot.
-Select your season(s): *Please note the dates are liable to change due to weather restrictions.
1. SPRING share:
May 7 – May 28
4 weekly boxes.
Unpack spring boxes brimming with fresh salad greens, radishes, asparagus, rhubarb and more. There may also be a few items included from last falls stored crops or fresh potted herbs.
2. SUMMER share:
June 4 – Oct 8
19 weeks, 3 size options.
Enjoy the abundance of summer fruits and veggies with a large variety of veggies and fruits all grown on our farm! Think peppers, cherries, salad greens, tomatoes, strawberries, potatoes, corn… just to name a few!
*BOX size options include:
BASIC: perfect for small families, couples, or single eaters who like plenty of veggies,
FAMILY: a must for serious veggie eaters or larger families,
and FLEX-10 (a punch pass for 10 basic-sized boxes throughout the season. Perfect for the out-of-town-worker, vacationer or light veggie eater. You get to choose which weeks you’d like to join in!
3. FALL shares:
Oct 22 – Dec 3
4 Bi-weekly extra-large boxes.
You’ll be eating up the hearty storage crops, such as parsnips, carrots, squash, potatoes, onions, greenhouse salad greens, nuts and more!
–Pay up! Part of why the CSA works so well is that the farmer receives payment from the members early in the season to help cover early season costs and to ensure commitment. A payment plan option is available if needed.
–Enjoy! Once the season is underway we will be harvesting and packing your boxes with fresh and in season veggies and fruits on a weekly basis. Time to enjoy! You’ll receive a weekly newsletter telling you what will be in the box, receive farm updates, see fresh pictures and we’ll share recipes too!
How much does it cost?
*NOTE: This chart is difficult to view on a cell phone. Please use a computer to see the price list.
Seasons ↓ |
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|---|---|---|---|
Spring Share(4 weeks) Tuesdays May 7- May 28 *limited shares available. |
$100Medium box size only.
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Summer Share(19 weeks) Tuesdays June 4 – Oct 8 three box options → |
BASICGreat for small families, couples, or single eaters who like plenty of veggies.
$475($25 per box)
|
FAMILY A must for serious veggie eaters or larger families.
$665($35 per box)
|
FLEX-1010 basic-sized boxes throughout the season. Perfect for the out-of-town-worker, vacationeror light veggie eater.$285($28.50 per box)
|
Autumn Share(4 Extra-large boxes) Bi-weekly, Tuesdays Oct 22 – Dec 3 |
$200Extra Large box size only.
|
Payment Options:
*You can pay in full,
OR in four instalments ($25 admin fee) for summer share only.
*Payment options include: Email transfer to [email protected] (preferred), Cheque (made out to Daniel or Kathryn Saxton), or Cash (arrange to bring to the farm).
What’s new for 2024…
HOLD-it!
HOLD-it! Each member has up to TWO holds for the season, this is available for the summer season ONLY. So if you’re going to be out of town, you put your box on hold and redeem a bonus box either at mid or end of season.
Referral Program!
Tell a friend what you love about our farm’s CSA! When they sign-up we’ll give you both $20 in farm credit to say thanks for spreading the word!
Extras:
We offer extras for sale each week so you can have more of what you love. Along with our own produce we are happy to supply awesome products like fresh milk and cheese, eggs, coffee, and honey from local businesses we love!
This year we will be offering extras through GUMBOOTS farm store (for Armstrong folks) or with a mini market set up at VAC (for Vernon folks). Please note *we will NOT be doing Add-on pre-orders this year.
Dates for CSA 2024:
Spring: Every Tuesday from May 7-28
Summer: Every Tuesday from June 4- Oct 8
Autumn: Every other Tuesday from Oct 22 – Dec 3
*Please note the dates are liable to change due to weather restrictions.
8 Awesome Reasons to Join Our CSA!
- Get to know your farmers, ask questions and get connected with your food.
- Commit to eating healthy, locally, organically, seasonally. You will feel better!
- Trust us; Pilgrims’ has been farming in the community for 30+ years!! It’s tried and true!
- Read our weekly newsletter to keep in the loop on farm happenings, what’s in the box, great recipes and pictures.
- Treat your tastebuds! The produce is flavour packed and nutrient dense; everything is harvested fresh!
- Enrich the community and local economy by supporting local farmers.
- Reduce your food miles and contribute to regional food security.
- Visit the farm and see where your food grows! We offer farm tours and host events throughout the season exclusive to our CSA members.
Terms & Conditions
Please read through the TERMS & CONDITIONS below. You will find important info inclosed. By sending Pilgrims’ Produce money for your CSA share, we will assume that you have read through, and agree with the following terms and conditions.
CSA Member Commitments & Responsibilities:
As a CSA member you are responsible for:
- Picking up your share at the time and location you chose on your sign up form.
- Paying the farm on time. Only when we receive full/partial payment will your spot be secure in our CSA program.
- Reading your CSA newsletter; this is the farm’s main method of communication.
- Understanding that there are risks involved in farming. Due to weather-related issues, the quality or quantity of the items in your box may be affected. Also, understand that at times there may be minor blemishes or even insect damage to your food — nothing major. We strive to provide you with excellent quality produce!
Farmers’ Commitments & Responsibilities:
As the farmers of Pilgrims’ Produce we are responsible for:
- Having the shares ready at the time and location agreed upon at sign-up.
- Providing members with fresh, quality, organic produce, all grown on our farm. If we should ever need to source produce elsewhere we will clearly communicate that. As a rule, ALL of the food in your box is grown on our farm, and everything is Certified Organic!
- Communicating important info via emails/newsletters to members throughout the season. Please add [email protected] to your contact list and remember to check your junk/spam mail; the newsletters (created in MailChimp) tend to go there.
Cancellation & Refund Policy:
There is a non-refundable $100 deposit for all members. This $100 deposit is included in the box price.
If a CSA member decides to cancel their membership before the first pickup date, they will receive a full refund, minus the non-refundable $100 deposit fee.
Once the season has begun, if a CSA member decides to cancel their membership, we cannot give refunds unless there is someone on the waitlist who is willing to take over the “share”. If someone is willing to take over the share, the original member will receive a refund of the value for the remaining boxes left for the season, minus a cancellation/administration fee of $35.
PAYMENT:
*Having the money upfront really helps us, the farmers, with all the pre-season expenses such as seeds, machinery, employees etc. Having your commitment for the season helps us be more efficient with growing.
-Spring payment is due no later than: April 15, 2024.
-Summer payment is due no later than: May 15, 2024.
*The payment plan option is for the summer CSA only and has a $25 admin fee. You can make four equal payments throughout the summer following the payment schedule below:
1st installment: May 15, 2024
2nd installment: June 15, 2024
3rd installment: July 15, 2024
4th installment: August 15, 2024
-Autumn payment is due no later than: October 1, 2024.
*Payment options include: Email transfer to [email protected] (preferred), Cheque (Made out to Dan or Kathryn Saxton), or Cash (arrange to bring to the farm)
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What happens if I will be away?
Going camping or working out of town? No problem. You’ve got options. HOLD-it! Each member has up to TWO holds for the season, this is available for the summer season ONLY. So if you’re going to be out of town, you put your box on hold and redeem a bonus box either at mid or end of season.
OR you can arrange for someone else to come fetch your CSA box.
What if I forget my box?
Please notify us ASAP. You can come to the farm to fetch your box. We will keep your box for up to three days and then donate it. We must be notified if you would like us to save it for you.
If no one comes for the box within a few days, we will donate it to the food bank.
What if I don’t like something in my box?
Did your mother ever make you eat all your veggies?! Good. Part of the fun of a CSA is to learn to be more adventurous with eating, trying new items or learning new ways to prepare your less-favourite items. We provide great recipe ideas each week, highlighting the less-well-known items and are here for you to support your along the way.
We also offer a SWAP box! This is where you can trade for something you like better.
Do I get to choose what’s in my box?
No. This is a Farmer’s Choice CSA. We grow a huge selection of produce and no two weeks will be the same. Each week’s items are carefully chosen based on what is in season and when we last gave it to you. There may occasionally be repeated items from the previous week (gotta eat asparagus while the season lasts). Have a look at some of our sample box photos to get an idea of what goes in the boxes. We aim to give you a salad option each week, as well as “snacky” lunch items and more filling items to feed your family.
You will receive staple items appearing more often, such as carrots, tomatoes or potatoes, while the more unusual items will be less often. Herbs and nuts are a fun addition to some week’s boxes, but not a major component. We welcome your feedback on what you’d love to see more of, and less of, too.
What if I want more veggies or fruits?
Great!! We offer extras for sale each week so you can have more of what you love. Along with our own produce we are happy to supply awesome products like fresh milk and cheese, eggs, coffee, and honey from local businesses we love! We will also have BULK items available throughout the season so you’ll be able to do some canning, dehydrating or gorging on your favourites!
This year we will be offering extras through GUMBOOTS farm store (for Armstrong folks) or with a mini market set up at VAC (for Vernon folks). Please note *we will NOT be doing Add-on pre-orders this year.
Here’s what our CSA members said …
We love Kat and Dan. And the delicious food. And the seasonality of it.
Your produce is always amazingly fresh, delicious and in good condition, you’re super organized and we love the ways you’ve expanded your offering.
CSA Sign-up!
Sign-up for the 2024 CSA will be open on March 1!
To order your CSA subscription, follow the link to our Local Line store. You’ll need to create an account and then you can select from our share options in the store.
