Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Farm Share?
A Farm Share, or a CSA share, is a way to support a small scale vegetable farm. When you purchase a share, you become a member of the farm. As a member, you then pickup produce weekly based on the season.
Three Seasons
We have a 33 week share split into three 11 week seasons. Spring Shares begin on May 2 and end July 11. Summer shares run July 18 – September 26, and Fall shares go from October 3 – December 12. You can join any period you would like. If you have a garden, join us for just the Spring and Fall, if you have a big vacation in the Spring, then join us the other weeks. If you are new to a Farm Share, then start small with just a quarter share to see if it works for you. When you purchase one or more seasons together you save 10%!!!
What Size Share Should I Get?
We have three share sizes: We designed the Full Share for a household of four, the Half for two adults and the Quarter for one adult.
A Quarter share picks up a half share every other week.
We know that every household is different. Check out some of our example pickups to decide on the size that best fits your needs!
What is a Soup Share?
A Soup Share from New City Neighbors is the perfect addition to our vegetable share. It offers you the choice between two delicious seasonal soups or a delightful deli side combo. Picture yourself picking up a quart of creamy Broccoli Cheddar soup, a comforting African Peanut Stew (vegan and gluten-free), or a deli combo with a 1/2 quart of Slaw and a 1/2 quart of a noodle salad. It’s a fantastic and convenient way to lighten your load during the week. We understand that not everyone has the time to cook a meal from scratch every week.
When Does My Share Start?
Spring shares begin May 2 and end July 11.
Summer shares begin July 18 and end September 26.
Fall shares begin Oct. 3 and end Dec. 12.
When is Pickup?
Pick Up is every Thursday from May-early December from 12-7:00pm at the Farmhouse. 1115 Leonard St. NE Grand Rapids MI, 49503. Pick up is located behind the house off of Herrick Street.
Food Safety
Your household’s safety is of utmost importance to us at New City Neighbors. We prioritize your well-being by providing our employees with rigorous safety training, ensuring that your food remains secure. Additionally, we offer a convenient hybrid pick-up option for our valued customers. You can choose between a drive-thru CSA pick-up or a market-style pick-up each week. If you have any health concerns, our drive-thru option allows you to maintain social distancing. For those opting for the market-style pick-up, we kindly request that you exercise extra caution. Please sanitize your hands before selecting produce, and upon returning home, remember to wash your hands thoroughly. Furthermore, we encourage you to wash all produce a second time before using it. At New City Neighbors, we are wholly committed to providing you with fresh, healthy and safe produce.
How Do I Choose?
Customers of New City Neighbors have the option to choose between a convenient drive-thru style pickup or a market-style pickup every week. The Tuesday before each Thursday pickup, all customers receive an online form to complete, listing the available vegetables for that week. Typically, there are 4-6 predetermined stable items, along with 3-6 items that customers can choose from. For example, customers may receive a set amount of carrots, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, and onions, and then have the option to choose between (1) a head of broccoli or a cabbage, (2) a bundle of beets or turnips, and (3) a bundle of cilantro or a basil plant. If the form is completed by 6am on Thursday, our dedicated crew will pack the customer’s share in a bag for a hassle-free drive-thru pickup. If the form is not completed, customers can still pick up their vegetables in the “Coop” market-style. In the Coop, customers have the same choices but will pack their own bag. While we strive to offer as much choice as possible, our offerings are subject to the seasonal availability on the farm. Crop loss may impact our selection, and crop success might result in an abundance of certain vegetables that may not be loved by all. Each season, we gather feedback from our customers and make adjustments to our crop plan and growing practices to ensure that our customers receive produce they value. As a farm shareholder, you have the opportunity to embark on this exciting adventure of seasonality with us, and we will strive to provide you with recipe ideas that exceed your expectations and stimulate your culinary imagination.
What Are U-Pick Items?
We harvest and wash all your produce except for Peas, Beans, and Cherry Tomatoes. When these crops are in season customers have a choice to pick up a smaller pre-picked quantity, or they can U-pick these items to get a larger quantity. For example, one choice for a full share could be: take 2 pints of pre-picked cherry tomatoes OR U-pick 2 quarts of cherry tomatoes.