What a concept! Traditionally, CSA members are not given a lot of choice in what vegetables are available to them on any given week.

The problem is, not everyone likes eggplants, and summer squash gets tiring for many people by week three of the season... Maybe you love Kale, but hate Swiss Chard, and you are really bummed to see that this week, your farmer has decided to give Chard bunches instead of Kale bunches, when you KNOW there is Kale SOMEWHERE out there!

There IS a better way, and we implemented it poorly in 2001... with significant improvement in 2002 (especially in the later summer and fall) then noticeable better in 2003, and now for 2004 we think we've really should have it down.

The basic concept is that members are given several small and mid-sized bags to fill up with whatever they want within a certain grouping.

For example, there is a table heaped with various kinds of cooking greens, another table with salad greens and head lettuces, another with root vegetables, and another with things like tomatoes, peppers, zukes, etc..

Each table has a bag size or weight associated with it. Fill it up with whatever you want. Depending on the time of year, there will be quantity limits on some things (garlic and early tomatoes for example.)

There are no pre-bunched items. Tubs go straight from the field to the distribution barn in the same bulk bins that you make your selection from.

This brings you one step closer to the field, and saves us a huge amount of handling time dividing and banding. We can use that time to add more selection to the tables!