CSAFarmersMarket.net

How the Farmers Work Together

Many of the farmers participate with the operation of this market, and when no unexpected events/emergencies happen the market runs almost as smooth as clock work.

Today I received a panicked phone call from Racheal that she can’t open the market today because goats are out. So alas today I have to click the mouse, change the wordings and open the market.

Tuesday morning the farmers know what products they have to prepare for the market. CSA Farmers Market action starts Wednesday night when one of our helpers creates reports for packing frozen & dairy and prints the invoices, envelopes and other miscellaneous paperwork that enables us to get the farmers products to you. Michele from Fallen Oak Farm brings her items over and assembles the envelopes, invoices and packing reports than places them in the appropriated distribution location basket.

Thursday Morning Kurt from Ulrich Farm arrives with his items and packs up the orders that is suppose to go the West distribution area. Barb a helper takes the van and heads of to Almars where she meets with Linda Purdy from Westwind Mill and Pat Whetham from Whetham Organic. Orders going to the West side are packed and everyone takes the orders to their respective farms for customers.

The items they have for the East area are loaded in the van and taken back to White Pine Farm where Dale Kinney from White Pine Farm, Joe Law from Law Family Farm, Doreen Wilcox from BF&E Organics, and our helpers start to pack orders. As they are packed they are put in totes and placed in the walk in cooler. Of course frozen items go in the freezer and CSAFM is operating five chest freezers right now (it is going to be wonderful when we get the walk in). Krystal Owens son gets off from the bus at White Pine Farm where we pack orders and she loads up products that are going to Healthy Habitz which she will deliver before going home.

Friday morning Dale Kinney, Marian Listwak, and a helper go to White Pine Farm to load the van. We usually start loading at 7am as we carefully pack to make sure we don’t miss anything. Everything is color coded to help us know what to unload where it is suppose to go. If things go well we are on the road by 8:30 am to start delivering and the van does not arrive back until approximately 5pm. If I’m not helping with deliveries I usually stay close to the phone to deal with what every unexpected event that happens.

We operate somewhat like a co-op where the farmers are expected to do their share of work. Not all farmers can help so they contribute a higher percentage of their sales as compared to the grower that can participate with helping at the market.

Of course as always there is a fall person that fills in whenever any one is sick or goes on vacations or has to help friends whose goats get out. That person is me and if I don’t get back with everyone timely I can guarantee it is one of those weeks where I have to do double duty.

Until Next Time
Marian Listwak