Rock Lititz Summer CSA Policies & FAQs
What is the Rock Lititz CSA?
The Rock Lititz Summer CSA is an exclusive, member-based program for employees of the Rock Lititz Community. The Summer 2017 season runs for 22 weeks, from June 1 through October 26. The cost of a produce share is $440 (or a minimum of $20/week), which allows members to customize their weekly box or choose from a preselected Farm Box of fresh, organic produce from local family farms. Members also have the ability to use their share credit to purchase locally made goods like artisan breads, cheese, dairy products, pastured meats and eggs, and pantry staples.
What is Green Circle Organics?
Green Circle Organics is a local food hub, specializing in organic produce and local, handmade, artisan foods. When our market stand at the Lancaster Central Market opened in 2003, we had just a handful of local suppliers for organic produce. In the past 14 years, we’ve forged relationships with many local farms and farmer’s co ops to bring fresh, organic, local food to our customers. In 2015, we started a produce delivery service, which delivers boxes of fresh produce and other local goods to homes and businesses in Lancaster County.
Are you a farm?
We are not a farm, but instead work closely with local farmers and support local farmer’s co ops to source our produce. This helps the farmer stay on the farm, with less time and money spent on marketing and retailing, and more time growing good food. The farms we work with establish their own prices, and we value our working relationships which have, over the years, emphasized fairness, trust, friendship, and transparency. We do, however, grow a small amount of food on our home property--you may get some of our strawberries or heirloom tomatoes in your box!
Who can be a member of the Rock Lititz CSA?
The Rock Lititz CSA is only open to the Rock Lititz Community employees at this time.
Where are the weekly pickup spots located?
Pickups are every Thursday from June 1-October 26 at the following locations:
-Rock Lititz Main Campus, Pod 2
-Clair Brothers- 1 Ellen Ave., Lititz
-Tait Towers- 401 W Lincoln Ave., Lititz
-Clair Solutions- 1 Clair Blvd, Manheim
-Nimblist- 533 Janet Ave, Lancaster
-ATOMIC, 10 Wynfield Drive, Lititz
How does the Rock Lititz CSA work?
To sign up, visit our CSA website here. Payments are processed via PayPal (credit/debit cards are accepted even if you don't have a PayPal account), personal check (to be mailed), Payroll Deduction (at participating locations) or E-Check (coming soon). The $440 you purchase at the beginning of the season will be available as credit in our online marketplace. Each week, you’ll have the option of 1) signing in and visiting the Rock Lititz Farm Store to either choose the items you’d like to see in your box or 2) automatically receive our pre-selected Farm Box of seasonal fruits and vegetables. If you’d like to fully customize your box, the marketplace will feature a wide variety of in season, local organic vegetables, seasonal fruit (organic and IPM), dairy products, eggs and meats, breads, pantry items, and more. You can also choose the Farm Box and add on extras. The online marketplace will be open each week from Thursday through Sunday for members to sign in and select their items for that week. There is a minimum weekly purchase of at least $20 for a share to be delivered. When your credit is getting low, you’ll receive an email with instructions on how to add more funds to your account in increments of $100. Any leftover credits will be applied to next year’s share.
What if I don't like or am allergic to a particular item in a box?
Our selection in the Farm Box will change from week to week, and we will choose items that are fresh and interesting and appeal to the widest variety of tastes. However, we understand if you just don't like mushrooms or are allergic to strawberries. If there is an item in the Farm Box that you want to swap out, you can choose to customize your box that week and add only the items that you prefer.
What happens if I’m on vacation?
When you log in to your personalized online account, you’ll see an option to place up to 3 vacation holds per season. You’ll need to login by midnight the Sunday before your scheduled delivery in order to place your hold for that week. In the event that there are unforeseen circumstances that you need to put your account on hold for a longer period of time, please email us at greencircleorganics@hotmail.com and we’d be happy to help.
If I order dairy, meat or other items that need to be kept cold, how will they be handled?
We will provide public coolers for refrigerated and frozen items, and your order will be bagged and labeled for you to take from the cooler when you’re ready to pick up. However, we suggest bringing an ice pack, mini cooler or cold bag with you on the day of your pickup to ensure that these items stay cool until you get home.
Will you reuse bags/boxes?
Yes! Any clean boxes in good shape can be left on Thursdays at your pick up site for us to take back and reuse. We also take back ice packs, paper pint & quart containers, and egg cartons! Our produce bags are bio-degradable, and we try to combine similar vegetables in as few bags as possible to cut down on waste.
What if an item in my box is damaged?
We want you to be absolutely satisfied with the products in your box. If upon pickup you find an item that was damaged during delivery, please contact us and we will issue a credit. However, please note it is the member’s responsibility after the box is picked up to keep fresh produce viable and refrigerated products cold (not stored in a hot car, for instance). We plan to have insulated bags available for purchase in our online store to help with this matter.
What if certain items in my box become unavailable?
While we will do everything possible to keep items listed in stock, fresh produce is often at the fate of changing weather patterns, blights, bugs, droughts and unforeseen freezes--not to mention accidental over-predictions from farmers and suppliers, and simple human error. We appreciate your understanding in advance! If an item becomes unavailable before our order deadline, we'll notify you via email with a list of available substitutions. If a last minute substitution needs to be made, we’ll choose a similar item to replace it.
What if I forget to pick up my box?
You’ll get an email reminder the day before pickup reminding you when and where your box is to be picked up. All boxes will be clearly labeled with members’ names for easy identification. It is the responsibility each member to pick up their box and/or cold items or schedule a temporary hold before the order deadline of that week. Unfortunately, we are unable to pickup any leftover boxes at the end of the day, or issue credit for boxes that are accidentally left behind.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you need to cancel your membership before the end of the season, we ask that you email us at greencircleorganics@hotmail.com by Sunday midnight before your next scheduled Thursday pickup. Any remaining credits will be refunded through the method with which they were initially purchased.
The Rock Lititz Summer CSA is an exclusive, member-based program for employees of the Rock Lititz Community. The Summer 2017 season runs for 22 weeks, from June 1 through October 26. The cost of a produce share is $440 (or a minimum of $20/week), which allows members to customize their weekly box or choose from a preselected Farm Box of fresh, organic produce from local family farms. Members also have the ability to use their share credit to purchase locally made goods like artisan breads, cheese, dairy products, pastured meats and eggs, and pantry staples.
What is Green Circle Organics?
Green Circle Organics is a local food hub, specializing in organic produce and local, handmade, artisan foods. When our market stand at the Lancaster Central Market opened in 2003, we had just a handful of local suppliers for organic produce. In the past 14 years, we’ve forged relationships with many local farms and farmer’s co ops to bring fresh, organic, local food to our customers. In 2015, we started a produce delivery service, which delivers boxes of fresh produce and other local goods to homes and businesses in Lancaster County.
Are you a farm?
We are not a farm, but instead work closely with local farmers and support local farmer’s co ops to source our produce. This helps the farmer stay on the farm, with less time and money spent on marketing and retailing, and more time growing good food. The farms we work with establish their own prices, and we value our working relationships which have, over the years, emphasized fairness, trust, friendship, and transparency. We do, however, grow a small amount of food on our home property--you may get some of our strawberries or heirloom tomatoes in your box!
Who can be a member of the Rock Lititz CSA?
The Rock Lititz CSA is only open to the Rock Lititz Community employees at this time.
Where are the weekly pickup spots located?
Pickups are every Thursday from June 1-October 26 at the following locations:
-Rock Lititz Main Campus, Pod 2
-Clair Brothers- 1 Ellen Ave., Lititz
-Tait Towers- 401 W Lincoln Ave., Lititz
-Clair Solutions- 1 Clair Blvd, Manheim
-Nimblist- 533 Janet Ave, Lancaster
-ATOMIC, 10 Wynfield Drive, Lititz
How does the Rock Lititz CSA work?
To sign up, visit our CSA website here. Payments are processed via PayPal (credit/debit cards are accepted even if you don't have a PayPal account), personal check (to be mailed), Payroll Deduction (at participating locations) or E-Check (coming soon). The $440 you purchase at the beginning of the season will be available as credit in our online marketplace. Each week, you’ll have the option of 1) signing in and visiting the Rock Lititz Farm Store to either choose the items you’d like to see in your box or 2) automatically receive our pre-selected Farm Box of seasonal fruits and vegetables. If you’d like to fully customize your box, the marketplace will feature a wide variety of in season, local organic vegetables, seasonal fruit (organic and IPM), dairy products, eggs and meats, breads, pantry items, and more. You can also choose the Farm Box and add on extras. The online marketplace will be open each week from Thursday through Sunday for members to sign in and select their items for that week. There is a minimum weekly purchase of at least $20 for a share to be delivered. When your credit is getting low, you’ll receive an email with instructions on how to add more funds to your account in increments of $100. Any leftover credits will be applied to next year’s share.
What if I don't like or am allergic to a particular item in a box?
Our selection in the Farm Box will change from week to week, and we will choose items that are fresh and interesting and appeal to the widest variety of tastes. However, we understand if you just don't like mushrooms or are allergic to strawberries. If there is an item in the Farm Box that you want to swap out, you can choose to customize your box that week and add only the items that you prefer.
What happens if I’m on vacation?
When you log in to your personalized online account, you’ll see an option to place up to 3 vacation holds per season. You’ll need to login by midnight the Sunday before your scheduled delivery in order to place your hold for that week. In the event that there are unforeseen circumstances that you need to put your account on hold for a longer period of time, please email us at greencircleorganics@hotmail.com and we’d be happy to help.
If I order dairy, meat or other items that need to be kept cold, how will they be handled?
We will provide public coolers for refrigerated and frozen items, and your order will be bagged and labeled for you to take from the cooler when you’re ready to pick up. However, we suggest bringing an ice pack, mini cooler or cold bag with you on the day of your pickup to ensure that these items stay cool until you get home.
Will you reuse bags/boxes?
Yes! Any clean boxes in good shape can be left on Thursdays at your pick up site for us to take back and reuse. We also take back ice packs, paper pint & quart containers, and egg cartons! Our produce bags are bio-degradable, and we try to combine similar vegetables in as few bags as possible to cut down on waste.
What if an item in my box is damaged?
We want you to be absolutely satisfied with the products in your box. If upon pickup you find an item that was damaged during delivery, please contact us and we will issue a credit. However, please note it is the member’s responsibility after the box is picked up to keep fresh produce viable and refrigerated products cold (not stored in a hot car, for instance). We plan to have insulated bags available for purchase in our online store to help with this matter.
What if certain items in my box become unavailable?
While we will do everything possible to keep items listed in stock, fresh produce is often at the fate of changing weather patterns, blights, bugs, droughts and unforeseen freezes--not to mention accidental over-predictions from farmers and suppliers, and simple human error. We appreciate your understanding in advance! If an item becomes unavailable before our order deadline, we'll notify you via email with a list of available substitutions. If a last minute substitution needs to be made, we’ll choose a similar item to replace it.
What if I forget to pick up my box?
You’ll get an email reminder the day before pickup reminding you when and where your box is to be picked up. All boxes will be clearly labeled with members’ names for easy identification. It is the responsibility each member to pick up their box and/or cold items or schedule a temporary hold before the order deadline of that week. Unfortunately, we are unable to pickup any leftover boxes at the end of the day, or issue credit for boxes that are accidentally left behind.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you need to cancel your membership before the end of the season, we ask that you email us at greencircleorganics@hotmail.com by Sunday midnight before your next scheduled Thursday pickup. Any remaining credits will be refunded through the method with which they were initially purchased.
