Anyone here do subscription sales of produce?

[Beekissed]

I've been reading up on different ways to market produce from a garden and have always liked the sound of subscription sales, but it probably wouldn't be as lucrative in my area as it would in more urban areas.

Anyone here do it? If so, could you give me an example of a typical basket of produce and how much you sell it for? Quantity size?

I'd also like to offer some of my free-range, all-natural eggs in the baskets and, eventually, raw honey. I also have apple trees for fall harvest. If I can develop my hoop tunnels, I would like to grow cold-hardy lettuces and greens throughout the winter as well and cont. to offer those for sale.

Of course, all of this in a small way....maybe 4-5 customers until I get the hang of it.

 

[wifezilla]

Never heard of subscription sales. I do know a few people who have bought "garden shares" this year. I have friends without the time or ability to grow things themselves, so they bought shares in a local garden. I am not sure how much they paid or what they will get. I am seeing one of them this weekend so I will try and get details.

 

[robbobbin]

Subscription produce sales are real big in interior Alaska. For some it's their only fresh produce available.

 

[vfem]

In this recession, over the winter I buy through a church who supplies me a produce box for $21 with the purchase of a meat and staples box for $30.

The produce includes, onions, sweet potatoes, russet potatoes, carrots, head of lettuce, head of cabbage, pineapple (Berries are offered instead during the summer months), Bananas, Apples, Pears, Oranges and 2 Grape Fruits.

It changes slightly each month... but its worth the money. I'm sure you can get more then that for your produce, this is on of those donation things to help out during the recession though. It was made to be cheap.

Here's this months fruit/veggie box list for $22 (price went up):
1 head Premium Fresh California Iceberg Lettuce
1 head Premium Fresh California Romaine Lettuce
1 5 oz. Package Fresh Gourmet Classic Caesar Croutons
1 Package Wileys Citrus Garlic Salad Seasoning
1 lb. California Cello-Pack Carrots
2 each Premium Jumbo Vidalia Sweet Onions
1 each Premium Jumbo Red Onion
1 6 oz. Bag Premium Fresh Florida Red Radishes
1 head Premium Fresh Green Cabbage
3 lb. Premium Idaho Baking Potatoes
3 lb. Premium Tree-Ripened Valencia Oranges
3 lb. Premium Washington State Red Delicious Apples
1 each Premium Large Vine Ripened Honeydew Melon

 

[herbsherbsflowers]

I'm a member of a CSA, Community Supported Agriculture. The organic farm is only a few miles away and it cost 25 dollars a week. You pay a month at a time. We get a share of what is grown so it changes with the seasons. It is supposed to be starting up in a couple of weeks and will go through the fall. It usually ends about Thanksgiving. I think it is a good value and we get lots of produce each week. I am on a diet because of recently being diagnosed with type II diabetes. I am supposed to eat at least five servings of vegetables and fruits each day so I am sure I will get the full value of my membership this year.

 

[digitS']

In this recession, over the winter I buy through a church who supplies me a produce box for $21 with the purchase of a meat and staples box for $30. . . .

That's an interesting idea and sounds like a good one .

As a guy who spends quite a bit of time at a farmers' market, I've seen a few of the "Community Supported Agriculture" operations. Over a few years, a couple things stand out. One is that there's a whole range of people who will try this. These CSA's were charging about $300/season with a box of produce they say is sufficient for a family of 4 each week for a 5 month season. (. . . probably a higher cost now)

The folks who are successful would be growing a lot of nice produce whether they sell it thru a CSA program or not. But, there's a range. One outfit struggled thru one season, making excuses for the produce they were providing. The 2nd season, they started off for just a few weeks and then BANG, off they went to the other side of the country. I can't imagine what their subscribers thought, especially those who toughed it out with them thru the 1st season.

One farm was run by responsible and capable people. Their problem was the distance they were from their customers. Rather than use a farmers' market as a drop-off location or to grow enuf for both subscription AND market sales - they began delivering. That failed anyway after a few years. Thankfully, they weren't dependent on farm sales and were just running themselves into the ground trying to make it work.

I think that what could really enhance the opportunity is the draw of something other than garden produce. The one very successful operation makes use of "gifts" of fresh baked goods from an artisan bakery and even cheese from a small local dairy. Beekissed, the difference you could make is with the eggs. It could actually be the reverse for you with the addition of fresh produce as part of an "egg route." Egg routes used to be so common 40 or 50 years ago.

Delivered produce and eggs, like farm-sale produce and eggs, are often exempt by state law from licensing requirements.

Steve

 

[wifezilla]

In this recession, over the winter I buy through a church who supplies me a produce box for $21 with the purchase of a meat and staples box for $30.

We have ShareColorado and Angelfood Ministries that have similar programs. I have used Share Colorado a couple of times, but lately they are more expensive than the store!

Plus being off refined carbs and grains, half the stuff I can't eat anyway.

 

[vfem]

It is angel food ministries offered through our church. The quality of the meats, cheeses, eggs and produce offered depends on the farm that supplies it!

We are lucky enough that several items in our 'boxes' are offered directly from NC produce so its so local those are by far the freshed products we've gotten thus far.

I have to say I'm impressed with the Florida produce we've gotten (oranges and lemons) but I have to say I did not like the quality of the tangerines I've gotten! Those came from Cali.

Generally any pork products so far have been fatty and just not good all around.

The chicken however and the beef has been excellent.


I have to agree with digitS'!!! Adding those eggs as part of the package is a GREAT idea! Free Range Farm fresh eggs + the produce thats in season would be wonderful. You could set up a couple of pick up points for people. Say 2-3 times a week you show up at such and such a place, and then off to another on a different day. Bring extra eggs and such to offer them to ADD on to their order for a suggested price of your choice. Perhaps keep decorative baskets so people picking up could get a basket to 'gift' part of their pick up to friends and famiily.

Give people the option to order a second order that will get donated in their name to a place of their choice and once a month you could deliver their donation to needy families in the area.

Giving people a WIDE range of choices and flexibility is what is going to make people your customers for life!

ETA: You could also add recipes on sheets for them to try with that box of fruits and veggies! Something to get them excited to use them right away.

 

[Beekissed]

The article I read described delivering monthly, a basket with washed greens and lettuces, radishes, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, etc. They also tucked in a bouquet of fresh cut flowers as a bonus. I can do that and would love to do simple, country arrangements.

I was thinking of a bi-monthly basket of similar items and whatever was in season at the time. Possibly even taking orders for if someone liked to have more greens than potatoes, etc. Special ordered baskets and any seasonal items, like sweet corn~a dozen ears.

A bag of sweet onions, green onions in season, broccoli in season, herbs dried and fresh.

A pumpkin or two for Halloween, winter squash, small corn shuck wreaths, apples during harvest. I plan to keep growing Romaine lettuce and other winter greens this winter, so I could add some washed lettuces then also.

For Thanksgiving, pumpkins from the cellar, some potatoes also, frozen sweet corn. Dried flower bouquet like a Tussy Mussy. Fresh greens.

When I get bees and honey production going, adding honey, a beeswax candle.

Of course, the eggs.

I could occasionally throw in some homemade soaps and salves, herbed vinegars....you get the picture!

What would some of you pay for this if you did not grow your own? Would $25 a basket, twice a month, be too much to ask for clean, organically grown veggies and eggs and additional items?

Maybe even start selling them as gift baskets....think anyone would gift one of these? For seasonal gift baskets I would include more handmade items and probably charge much more!

For Christmas, a wreath or swag of natural evergreens and flora, a jar of spiced apple sauce, fresh bread, potatoes from the cellar, sweet onions, a braid of garlic, scented beeswax tapers, spiced pine cones for fire starters. Applehead granny doll with sheep's wool hair or even a applehead Santa with sheep's wool hair and beard. Lavendar wands and sachets, potpourri of dried herbs and flowers.

 

[digitS']

wonderful ideas and great crafting skills but . . . wow, each and every month?

Remember how you started off: subscriptions.

That would mean buying into the program before the start of the season with set beginning and end dates (barring events beyond your control). And, a willingness on the shareholder's part to accept some of the risks.

I think you'll get some ideas by doing google searches for CSA farms and what their programs amount to. Make sure that they aren't start-ups so they have some kind of track record and not just promises.

I was recently reading about a guy who sells produce by the box, only. You don't know what you are getting or how much. The box is $10 and he puts in what fresh produce he wants and no additional items.

His CSA works as a commitment to hold boxes at the farmers' market until a certain time. He has additional boxes he sells to the general public and after a cut-off time, he sells whatever boxes CSA members have not picked them up.

He is an older farmer and gets help from a community action group in posting on a blog and on craigslist. I was reading his "customer comments" and one member says she weighed a box and it was 13 pounds. She was delighted - as well she should be .

Your ideas for value-added and higher-end products increase the value a lot.

Steve