FAQs

General Program Questions 2023 updates in progress!

I'm picking up my bin at my location...what do I do?

Glen Valley CSA Member Pickup Guidelines

Last updated January 2023

Ground Rules: Please treat this like a trip to the grocery store. Please do not leave home if you are feeling unwell or showing any symptoms. 


Contingency planning:  What are your options if you cannot pick up your produce?


In addition to these common sense guidelines, please note any special considerations regarding your particular pickup location. These notes will be provided to you by email each and every delivery day.

When do the various CSA options run?

When do the various CSA options run?

The 2023 season will run as follows:


Glen Valley Greens (early season) PRODUCE SHARE - An average value of $47/week


Main Season PRODUCE SHARE - An average value of $47/week


OPTIONAL ADD-ONS:

Main Season Fruit Share - An average value of $35/week

November Fruit Share Extension - An average value of $22/week 

Your delivery day is determined by the location you are picking up from.


Is my delivery on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday?

Is my delivery on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday?

***If you decide to change the location of your delivery in a given week, please keep the delivery day of your new location in mind!

WEDNESDAY PICK UP


THURSDAY PICK UP



FRIDAY PICK UP

Should I sign up for  Full Share or a Half Share?

It depends how much you cook!

Quantities will fluctuate a little throughout the season - as we get into mid summer and early fall there is generally more to offer. We try to keep the box overall value near our target value, and at $47, that's about 8-11 items per week.

Generally speaking, a Full Share could be eaten each week by a veggie loving couple. These are the folks that cook for themselves almost every night, preserve, and eat a mostly plant based diet. The average busy family can usually get through one box per week, however there is no need to overburden yourself! Our online store will be open when we have extra produce and fruit available, so if you sign up for a Half Share and find yourself running low, you can always add more to your box!

What does a CSA subscription cost?

Pricing for the CSA is as follows:

Why is there a membership fee?

We have set up a $10 membership fee for the CSA program to help cover the costs of managing the CSA. A membership fee is common in many CSA programs. In our case, it allows us to separate out a flat fee for CSA overhead while allocating the full cost of each share option to food from the farm businesses.

What is in each box?

We grow high quality vegetables, berries and fruit and we deliver it fresh to your neighbourhood. Unless otherwise noted, all of the produce in your box is grown on our farm, and the tree fruit will mainly be coming from our partners at Snowy Mountain Organics in Cawston, BC. 

In a given week, we send out a forecast email (on Friday or Saturday) to let you know what we plan to put in your box the following week.  Weather and other factors have been known to wreak havoc with our planning, so this is not a guarantee of what you will find in your box, but it tends to be fairly accurate.  We will also open the online store at the same time so that you are able to supplement what is already in your box. 

We pride ourselves on the quality and freshness of our produce.

You can find a list of the produce we grow on our CSA Info page. 

Can I add extra produce to my box?

Yes you can! As a CSA member you get exclusive access to our online store. Throughout the season you will be invited to shop and purchase extra produce as it is available. We anticipate having a little bit of everything available as the season allowsBulk quantities of tomatoes, peaches and other fruits and veggies will be available on the store or by request as the season allows.  The store will open on Saturday and be open until Monday morning for delivery that week.

Can I substitute produce in my box?

The short answer is 'no'.  


The advantage of our current CSA model - for us - is that it provides us with an ability to do our crop planning and harvest planning according to real numbers (with 400 CSA members, we know we need to plan for a harvest of 400 heads of lettuce this week, and 400 bunches of kale next week, or bags of basil, or bunches of carrots, etc..).  Our aim is to provide as much variety as possible while still supplying reasonable quantities of produce.  That reduces waste and allows us to focus on key crops which we know are generally appreciated by members.  We then supplement our store offerings with smaller amounts of extras (to get 400 heads of lettuce, we seed and plant closer to 520, which means there is sometimes extra), and other crops that we grow specifically for the CSA store (in 2022 that included dill and cilantro in the spring, and cherry tomatoes later on).  


The disadvantage is that our CSA members don't get to choose what's in their box in a given week.


To mitigate that, we've created the half share option so that CSA members can receive the basic box once every two weeks if they find that the full share is too much to get through.  We also communicate the planned contents of the box ahead of time so members can use that to help with menu planning and weekly grocery shopping.  Finally, we have focused some energy on our online store so that members can add new items or supplement items to their box that week.


With this model we are aiming for a balance between what is desirable for us (some predictability for planning), and what is desirable for customers (variety, quality and flexibility).  It's not perfect, and it continues to evolve.


What are my payment options?

You have three options for payments.  Our preference is payment by Interac e-transfer to: info@glenvalleycsa.com.  You are also able to pay for your subscription by personal cheque (payable to Glen Valley Organic Farm and mailed to 8550 Bradner Road, Abbotsford BC V4X 2H5), or by credit card through Paypal.

We have three payment schedules available as well.  You can pay up-front; in 2 instalments (at sign-up and June 1); or in 6 instalments (at sign-up and montly on June 1, July 1, August 1, September 1 and October 1).  

What if I am away during the season?

If you know the dates you will be away in advance, you can place a delivery hold on your account.  

You can set up to a maximum of 4 delivery hold dates throughout the seasonThe value of any holds will be converted to Farmigo Credits.  Farmigo Credits can be used to purchase fruit and produce in our online store.

Do you need to place more than 4 delivery hold dates during the season?

After you have placed 4 holds this season, the value of of the boxes for any future holds will be forfeit.  In 2022, the average number of holds placed by our members was between 1 and 2.  By allowing up to 4 hold dates in our 2023 season, we hope to balance flexibility for you with the administrative costs for us associated with managing holds. 

A good alternative to holds is to have a friend or family member pick up your share while you are away.  You can even change the location of your delivery in any given week to make that option more convenient (or for any other reason).

To see our refund policy, visit our Terms and Conditions page

What if I need to cancel my subscription?

Prior to the start of the season, we will refund your subscription minus a $30 processing fee. 

If, during the season, you are unhappy with your CSA box for any reason or if you need to cancel due to a change in life circumstances, we will refund you the remaining value of your subscription.

What are the risks of joining a CSA program?

We do all we can to assure a full, diverse and wonderful harvest and we have a proven track record for delivering a quality box of produce throughout the season. Nonetheless, certain things are beyond our control, and may reduce yields, create substitutions, or result in complete losses. For example, in 2012 we experienced significant flooding in June and July during the Fraser River freshet (we still managed to deliver boxes throughout the season, but with less diversity than normal). There is an element of risk involved in any CSA program.

What are the farmers committing to in the CSA?

The Farmers of the Glen Valley Organic Farm CSA commit to:

What are CSA members committing to?

As member of the CSA, your are committing to:

How has COVID-19 effected your CSA program?

During the pandemic, we have been in direct communication with the Ministry of Agriculture and have worked under the guidance of local Health Authorities to bolster our food safety procedures and continually educate ourselves and our staff.  Health and safety is an ongoing effort, even beyond a pendemic, and we continue to follow guidance as provided from health authorities and the ministry. We are committed to transparency and the safety of our CSA members and CSA location hosts that keep our program running. 

Farmigo Questions

What is Farmigo?

Farmigo is the name of the software we use to manage our CSA program. It is where you can access our online store, make payments, place delivery holds and adjust your pickup location.

How do I sign in to my Farmigo account?

This link: https://csa.farmigo.com/account/glenvalleyorganicfarm will take you to the sign in page to create or sign in to your account.


How do I check my account balance?

Once you have signed in, your balance will be visible on the "My Account" page. A negative balance indicates funds owing. This could be the result of a payment coming due or an outstanding online store order.

A positive balance indicates you have funds available for spending in the online store. 

(See screen shots, below, for reference)

How do I spend my Farmigo Credits in the CSA store?

Simply purchase an item as you would normally in the online store.  At the checkout, your balance will automatically be adjusted to reflect any Farmigo Credits in your account.  

If you are a half share subscriber, you can only place orders on weeks that you already have a delivery scheduled.

How do I set a delivery hold?

Log into your account and click on the "Delivery Hold" tab. Then input the dates you will be away!

Please see our delivery hold policy

Once the hold is placed, Farmigo Credits will automatically be assigned to your account for the value of your delivery holds, to a maximum of 4 delivery hold dates a season.  After four dates, the value of your box will be forfeit.

(See screen shots, below, for reference)

Can I change my delivery location?

Yes! Log into your account and click on the change button in the green pickup site section. Please note that you are able to make delivery location chagnes to your account for the following week starting on Saturday, and until Monday morning at 8am.  The change will be in effect for every following week until you change it back!

(See screen shots, below, for reference)

Where do I go to pick up my CSA bin?

Each location is unique, and therefore has their own unique pickup instructions. Check your Farmigo account to find your pickup location instructions. 

(See screen shots below, for reference)

What if my question is not answered here?

Its very important to us that your questions about our program get answered!

Please read our Terms and Conditions, look over this FAQ page and explore your Farmigo account before sending us an email. If we receive emails whose questions we have already answered in writing on our website, you will be directed back to our website.

However, once you have familiarized yourself with our website and still can't find what you are looking for please do not hesitate to reach out to us! We want to help!

Please do send us an email: info@glenvalleycsa.com

If you'd like us to call you, please leave us your phone number and an indication of your availability.

How do I check my account balance?

Once you have signed in, your balance will be visible on the "My Account" page. A negative balance indicates funds owing. This could be the result of a payment coming due or an outstanding online store order.

A positive balance indicates a potential over-payment or a pending reimbursement.

How do I set a delivery hold?

Log into your account and click on the "Delivery Hold" tab. Then input the dates you will be away!

Please see our delivery hold policy.   You have a maximum of 4 delivery holds that can be placed over the course of the season

Once the hold is placed your account will be assigned Farmigo Credits equivalent to the value of your delivery holds.  Farmigo Credits can be spent in our online store during the course of the season.


Can I change my delivery location? 

Yes! Log into your account and click on the change button in the green pickup site section. Please note that Monday is the weekly deadline to change your delivery location, and the change will be in effect for every following week until you change it back!

Where do I go to pick up my CSA bin?

Each location is unique, and therefore has their own unique pickup instructions. Check your farmigo account to find your pickup location instructions.