People sign up because:
- They want to get really fresh food straight from the farms, not food that’s been in warehouses, distribution centers and back storage (like buying clubs and co-ops get).
- They want organic/pesticide-free food.
- They want to support local farmers.
- They eat a lot of veggies.
- Their doctor told them to.
- They want a ‘greener’ footprint.
- They’ve been in CSAs in other parts of the country (this category increasing).
- They were in a buying club or a co-op and realized all they’re getting there is the same exact stuff they can get at the grocery store.
People leave because:
- They find out they really DON’T eat as many veggies as they thought.
- They move away.
- They are uncomfortable with surprises, because they don’t know in advance what they are going to get.
- They want more of what they call ‘traditional veggies’ — meaning the basic 10 things they buy at the grocery store, some of which don’t grow here, or only during a limited time (in season), and they can’t understand why they can’t get, for example, onions or tomatoes or potatoes at the start of the season (and all season long!).
- They’re stuck in the grocery store ‘pretty food’ paradigm (ooh, it has a bad spot, throw it out!) and can’t accept ‘real food’ complete with buggies (extra protein, anyone?), and soil (vegetables grow in dirt? can’t we get rid of it?).
Thanks to Farmer Margie for sending me her rant!
Redland Rambles 
Or they have to leave because, sadly, this darn economy has taken a bite of their food budget and they are reduced to eating the bare minimum.
That sounds awful! Hope it didn’t happen to you. It’s a shame that in this country the cheap food is the least healthy, and the healthy food is more expensive.