Rock Lititz Summer CSA Policies & FAQs
(For Our Home Delivery Policies and Terms, please click here.)
What is the Summer CSA program?
Our Summer CSA is a member-based program for employees of participating businesses in Lancaster County, PA. The Summer 2024 Full Share season runs for 21 weeks, from May 30 to October 24. (Please note: there is no delivery scheduled for July 4, 2024). The cost of a Full Share is $462 (minimum order $20/week, includes a $2 service fee per order), and allows members to customize their weekly box of organic produce sourced from local family farms. Members also have the ability to use their share credits to purchase locally made goods like artisan breads, cheese, dairy products, pastured meats and eggs, and pantry staples. A Half Share option is also available for $242, which runs for 11 weeks from May 30-October 17. Half Shares enjoy the same features of our Full Share, but are delivered every other week.
What is Green Circle Organics?
Green Circle Organics is a local food business specializing in organic produce and local, handmade, artisan foods. We opened a market stand at the Lancaster Central Market in 2003. Over the past 21 years, we’ve forged relationships with several Lancaster County farmers 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. Instead, we work closely with local farmers and support 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.
Who can be a member of the Summer CSA?
Check with your employer to see if you belong to a participating worksite. Pick up sites are limited to employees of participating businesses only.
When are deliveries made?
Deliveries are made to your work site on Thursdays between 11:30 am-3:30 pm.
How does the Summer CSA work?
To sign up, visit our CSA sign up page here. Each week, you’ll have the option of 1) signing in and visiting the Summer CSA Farm Store to either choose the items you’d like or 2) automatically receive our pre-selected Farm Box of seasonal fruits and vegetables. If you’d like to fully customize your box, the Farm Store will feature a variety of in season, local organic vegetables, seasonal fruit, dairy products, eggs and pastured meats, breads, pantry items, and more. You can also choose the Farm Box as is and add on extra items if needed. The online marketplace will be open each week from Thursday starting at 11 p.m. through Monday at 9 a.m. 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.
How are payments processed?
Payments are processed via PayPal (credit/debit cards are accepted even if you don't have a PayPal account), Personal Check (checks must be made in full and received by 5/25/24), or Venmo. The $462/$242 you purchase at the beginning of the season will be available as credit in your CSA account and can be used to purchase additional items in our Farm Store.
What is the $2 service fee?
We are dedicated to providing our employees with a living wage, and will use this service fee to help offset costs associated with employee wages, packing materials, fuel costs, and delivery of your box.
What happens if I’m on vacation?
When you log in to your online account, you’ll see an option to place a Vacation Hold where you can schedule in advance deliveries you would like to skip. If your box is already filled for the week, just email us by 9 a.m. Monday and we will place a hold on your box for you. 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 [email protected] 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?
Items will be kept chilled in transport and we will do our best to provide an ice pack in your box. Cold or frozen items should be picked up promptly and refrigerated right away. If you don't have refrigeration available at your work place, we strongly suggest bringing a mini cooler or cold bag with you on the day of your pickup to ensure that these items stay cool until you get home. We cannot be held liable for any spoilage due to failure to pick up or refrigerate perishable items.
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.
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 in the fall--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. 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 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 [email protected]. If applicable, any remaining credits will be refunded through the method with which they were initially purchased.
I was a member of the 2023 Season, and still have a credit on my account. How can I use my balance toward my 2024 Share?
Members who retained a balance from the 2023 season over $1 will see a credit applied to their account before the first delivery on May 30. You must be paid in full for the 2024 season before credit can be applied.
I just tried to place an order, and the system is asking me to sign up for recurring payments through PayPal. What is this?
The first time you attempt to place an order that exceeds the number of credits applied to your weekly box ($1=1 credit), our system will redirect you to PayPal to sign up for future recurring payments. This is put in place to ensure that, in the event that you deplete your CSA credit balance before the season ends, we have a way to collect any payments that are not covered by your available balance. However, if you have enough funds in your account to cover any items added to the base cost of your box, payment for these items will be deducted from your available balance first. An extra PayPal payment is only triggered when what remains in your CSA balance will not cover the cost of that week's delivery (minimum of $22).
What happens if I do not use all of my balance before the end of the season?
If any funds are left in your CSA balance when the season ends, those funds will either be applied to an upcoming season (2025), or can be refunded to you in the form of a gift certificate that you can use for our home delivery service or at our Central Market produce stand throughout the year. Please note that we do not offer cash refunds for unused credits due for any reason (including vacation holds or for unused credits).
What happens if I use up my balance before the season is over?
If your balance falls below $22 before the end of the season, your account will be placed hold until additional funds are added or until the end of the season, whichever comes first. You will be notified at the end of the CSA season if you have any credits remaining in your account, at which time you can choose to rollover your funds to the 2025 season, or choose to receive the remaining funds in the form of a gift card to be used at our Lancaster Central Market Stand.
Any other questions? Please email us, and we'd be happy to help!
Our Summer CSA is a member-based program for employees of participating businesses in Lancaster County, PA. The Summer 2024 Full Share season runs for 21 weeks, from May 30 to October 24. (Please note: there is no delivery scheduled for July 4, 2024). The cost of a Full Share is $462 (minimum order $20/week, includes a $2 service fee per order), and allows members to customize their weekly box of organic produce sourced from local family farms. Members also have the ability to use their share credits to purchase locally made goods like artisan breads, cheese, dairy products, pastured meats and eggs, and pantry staples. A Half Share option is also available for $242, which runs for 11 weeks from May 30-October 17. Half Shares enjoy the same features of our Full Share, but are delivered every other week.
What is Green Circle Organics?
Green Circle Organics is a local food business specializing in organic produce and local, handmade, artisan foods. We opened a market stand at the Lancaster Central Market in 2003. Over the past 21 years, we’ve forged relationships with several Lancaster County farmers 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. Instead, we work closely with local farmers and support 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.
Who can be a member of the Summer CSA?
Check with your employer to see if you belong to a participating worksite. Pick up sites are limited to employees of participating businesses only.
When are deliveries made?
Deliveries are made to your work site on Thursdays between 11:30 am-3:30 pm.
How does the Summer CSA work?
To sign up, visit our CSA sign up page here. Each week, you’ll have the option of 1) signing in and visiting the Summer CSA Farm Store to either choose the items you’d like or 2) automatically receive our pre-selected Farm Box of seasonal fruits and vegetables. If you’d like to fully customize your box, the Farm Store will feature a variety of in season, local organic vegetables, seasonal fruit, dairy products, eggs and pastured meats, breads, pantry items, and more. You can also choose the Farm Box as is and add on extra items if needed. The online marketplace will be open each week from Thursday starting at 11 p.m. through Monday at 9 a.m. 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.
How are payments processed?
Payments are processed via PayPal (credit/debit cards are accepted even if you don't have a PayPal account), Personal Check (checks must be made in full and received by 5/25/24), or Venmo. The $462/$242 you purchase at the beginning of the season will be available as credit in your CSA account and can be used to purchase additional items in our Farm Store.
What is the $2 service fee?
We are dedicated to providing our employees with a living wage, and will use this service fee to help offset costs associated with employee wages, packing materials, fuel costs, and delivery of your box.
What happens if I’m on vacation?
When you log in to your online account, you’ll see an option to place a Vacation Hold where you can schedule in advance deliveries you would like to skip. If your box is already filled for the week, just email us by 9 a.m. Monday and we will place a hold on your box for you. 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 [email protected] 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?
Items will be kept chilled in transport and we will do our best to provide an ice pack in your box. Cold or frozen items should be picked up promptly and refrigerated right away. If you don't have refrigeration available at your work place, we strongly suggest bringing a mini cooler or cold bag with you on the day of your pickup to ensure that these items stay cool until you get home. We cannot be held liable for any spoilage due to failure to pick up or refrigerate perishable items.
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.
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 in the fall--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. 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 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 [email protected]. If applicable, any remaining credits will be refunded through the method with which they were initially purchased.
I was a member of the 2023 Season, and still have a credit on my account. How can I use my balance toward my 2024 Share?
Members who retained a balance from the 2023 season over $1 will see a credit applied to their account before the first delivery on May 30. You must be paid in full for the 2024 season before credit can be applied.
I just tried to place an order, and the system is asking me to sign up for recurring payments through PayPal. What is this?
The first time you attempt to place an order that exceeds the number of credits applied to your weekly box ($1=1 credit), our system will redirect you to PayPal to sign up for future recurring payments. This is put in place to ensure that, in the event that you deplete your CSA credit balance before the season ends, we have a way to collect any payments that are not covered by your available balance. However, if you have enough funds in your account to cover any items added to the base cost of your box, payment for these items will be deducted from your available balance first. An extra PayPal payment is only triggered when what remains in your CSA balance will not cover the cost of that week's delivery (minimum of $22).
What happens if I do not use all of my balance before the end of the season?
If any funds are left in your CSA balance when the season ends, those funds will either be applied to an upcoming season (2025), or can be refunded to you in the form of a gift certificate that you can use for our home delivery service or at our Central Market produce stand throughout the year. Please note that we do not offer cash refunds for unused credits due for any reason (including vacation holds or for unused credits).
What happens if I use up my balance before the season is over?
If your balance falls below $22 before the end of the season, your account will be placed hold until additional funds are added or until the end of the season, whichever comes first. You will be notified at the end of the CSA season if you have any credits remaining in your account, at which time you can choose to rollover your funds to the 2025 season, or choose to receive the remaining funds in the form of a gift card to be used at our Lancaster Central Market Stand.
Any other questions? Please email us, and we'd be happy to help!