Bountiful Baskets - FAQ

The short answer, although we hate to seem hard to get along with…..is “not usually.”  What makes the Bountiful Basket Program run as smoothly as it does, is our “keep it simple” approach.  All baskets are packed the same.  It’s quick, straightforward, and easy.  

However…a few years back, we introduced the ‘Sharing Table’ …and it was a HUGE success!  In response to some great feedback on our customer survey, we gave it a try.  None of us like to waste food…and we don’t all LOVE every item…so…

1. The ‘Sharing Table’ continues for 2023!
   Leave behind any item that you know you will not use for someone else to enjoy.  Take an item that has been left by another client.
2. Occasional ‘THIS’ or ‘THAT’ weeks. 
   When the garden permits (NOT every week), we will attempt to offer a choice in one item – for example – Beets OR Carrots
3. A Whole DIFFERENT option…
   Want even MORE flexibility….but still like the idea of belonging to the program?  Check out ‘Bountiful Baskets – FREESTYLE’.

We completely understand that this would be very helpful, particularly to those folks who do their weekly grocery shopping a day or two before basket pick-up day.  The truth of the matter is….sometimes it’s a surprise to US what ends up going in the Bountiful Baskets at the last minute!!  We may fully intend to include beans in every basket that week.  If, however, the plants don’t produce what we were expecting them to, then we have to make a quick substitution.

When you have a glance at your weekly email from us, it will indicate what some of the items are expected to be.  If there’s a recipe for stuffed peppers, then there’s a good chance you’ll see peppers in your basket.  We just can’t get into the habit of providing an extensive list of contents.  That only gets us into trouble!

Have you got a friend or neighbour with whom you’d like to share?   Send them our way on Basket day! They can sign it out on your behalf and enjoy!   (You may wish to let us know in advance…but it’s not imperative that you do.)  It’s a great chance for someone else to ‘test drive’ the Bountiful Basket experience.
If that is not a good option for you, you may request that we donate your basket to one of our local charity partners.  (That’s what we do with any unclaimed baskets anyhow.) They are always appreciated.

Either way, we’ll make sure that nothing goes to waste.

Well….99.9% of the time – Yes!!   

The only exception would be a serious crop failure, or gap in production. In the event that it is not possible to provide the planned value in a particular week, we would supplement that basket with an item sourced from one of our trusted colleagues at another local family farm.

We are passionate about only selling what we grow, be it the contents of your Baskets, or the products on our stand…and that is definitely our goal.  If it’s ever any different, we will be completely transparent and honest to TELL you which item is appearing as a ‘special guest’ in your baskets!

Admittedly, this means that there is slightly less variety in the Bountiful Baskets from week to week.  It’s a trade-off that the vast majority of our program members are happy with…to know for certain that what goes on their dinner table comes from “their farmers”, whom they know and trust!

Based on our history, you can expect to see corn in your Bountiful Basket about half of the time.   (so…7 or 8 weeks out of 15, in other words).  Other frequent appearances will likely include (but are not limited to) potatoes, lettuce, and beans.

You see, the difference between our program and some other CSA Programs is that we don’t feel right at having you assume the risk that comes along with growing vegetables.  You pay us for the season at the beginning, and we commit to providing AT LEAST enough produce to equal that value.  So, if – like happens some years – our tomatoes disappoint us, and we only get half the expected yield, then we want to make it up to you with ‘something’ rather than leave a gaping hole in the basket where the tomatoes should have been.

**If you would not describe your cooking habits as adaptable, or a little adventurous, then you would likely be happier to just stop by our stand on a weekly basis and purchase exactly the vegetables you wish. Check out ‘Bountiful Baskets – FREESTYLE’.

A very fair question – this one has come up from time to time, depending on the growing year. It’s another one of those “catch 22’s”. We like to start the Bountiful Basket program off early enough to make sure you get some of our delicious strawberries, BUT at that point in the season, variety is LIMITED. All we can do is ask you to trust us when we say that ‘we’ll make up for it’ as the season goes on.

Here’s what one customer, who had some concerns after week #1, had to say by the end of the program…

“Being my first time this year, the beginning few baskets seemed sparse but now that I have done all 15 weeks I see that you more than make up for this as the season progresses and the harvest becomes more plentiful. Loved the variety in the baskets each week.”