Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How much will I receive in a half share or full share of fruits and veggies?
A: Half shares are suited for two adults or families with young children. Each week you will receive roughly 5-9 different products in the share depending on the season.
Full shares are best suited for families with growing children or a couple that consumes a lot of fruits and veggies. Full shares receive 9-12 different items in their share. Full shares are not just double the half share you receive, but include a wider variety of produce. Each week the shares are put together with fruits and veggies that we believe most families eat within a week. We don’t fill our basket full of produce you don’t recognize. Please see Sample Baskets page for examples of what might be included in your share basket.
Q: How much will I receive in a meat share?
A: This all depends on your meat selection, as each cut has a different price. For a small share you receive about $60 worth of meat every month , the medium meat share you will receive about $100 worth of meat per month. The meat lovers you will receive $165 worth of meat.
Small meat shares are geared towards a couple who eats meat once or twice a week.
Medium meat shares are gear toward families who meat once or twice a week.
Meat lovers shares are for families who enjoy meat most days of the week.
Q: How many weeks is the CSA Share program?
A: Fruit and veggie shares, along with egg shares are weekly for a duration of 20 weeks. These shares start in Mid-June and run through the end of October.
Meat shares are monthly for 6 months (June- November).
Q: What will be in my share?
A: Shares change each week throughout the growing season. Each week you will be surprised to find what is coming in and out of season. We grow 150 acres of hand-picked fruits and vegetables here on Willowtree farm, growing over 30 different fruits and vegetables assuring you a wide variety of produce. Just a “taste” of some of what we grow:
Fruit: strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, rhubarb, apples from our aunt and fresh pressed cider in the fall
Vegetables: asparagus, tomatoes, sweet corn, broccoli, cauliflower, beans, peas, garlic, onions, peppers, lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, kale, beets, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes
Q: Will I get fruit in my share?
A: Yes. Each week you will get at least one fruit, and some weeks you will receive 2 or more fruits. It all depends on the time of year.
Q: Who participates in the CSA share programs?
A: Families and individuals who are looking for healthy and local source of food. The CSA program is geared toward people who are interested in eating and cooking fresh, seasonal and sustainable produce. Our members develop a relationship with us and become part of our farm family and get to be involved in what is happening on the farm. We have a field day where we invite our CSA members out to come see how we grow your food and learn a little bit about how everything works.
Q: Where do you deliver?
A: We deliver to Scugog (Port Perry), Uxbridge, Brooklin, Whitby, Ajax, Oshawa, Pickering, Bowmanville, Courtice, Stouffville, Markham (East of the 404)
Q: Are we a “certified organic farm”?
A: No, we are not a certified organic farm. However, we employ many farming practices that are sustainable and organic. Sustainable farming is extremely important to us which is why we try to minimize our and your impact on the environment, including growing several of our crops without any spray at all.
Q: Do you spray your crops?
A: We use a diverse system of techniques to minimize using sprays. We employ Integrated Pest Management (IPM), crop rotation, trap crops, green manure crops and companion planting together to reduce the number of pesticides we use. IPM is based on the idea of crop scouting to know what is in your fields and at what level. We are constantly scouting our crops and monitoring insect and disease pressure.
In some cases where we reach maximum thresholds levels (meaning we will lose the whole crop) we will use a pesticide. In saying this we use the safest products available, at the lowest rates always ensuring we follow the label requirements and health regulations.
Q: Do you grow GMO fruits and vegetables?
A: No we do not grow any GMO fruits or vegetables and all the food we grow to feed our animals is also non-GMO.
Q: What are our store hours?
A: We are open 9 am – 6 pm 7 days a week. We are open all holidays.
Q: What day can we pick up our shares?
A: Summer shares can be picked up from the farm store from Wednesday through Saturday of each week. Winter shares can be picked up on Thursday.
Q: When will our shares be delivered?
A: We deliver Tuesday through Thursday depending on where you live. You can expect your share between 9 am and 7 pm. You don’t have to be home. We will leave your box at your door but we recommend that you leave a cooler out for us to put the produce in. If not we will leave you a box and collect it the following week.
Before the season begins we will confirm with everyone their delivery day, based on our route. Once that is established it will remain the same for the entire season and we will deliver your produce to your door around the same time each week.
Q: Can I sign up late in the Season?
A: Yes. You can join at any point in the season. We pro-rate the cost of the share, for the week you join.
Q: Can I change the size of my share if I find it’s too little or too much food?
A: Yes you can change your share at any time to be larger or smaller or to add eggs. Just email the farm to let us know of your desired changes.
Q: Can I try out the share program for one week and then decide?
A: Certainly! Contact us and we can set you up.
Q: I live in an apartment/condo. Can I still get delivery?
A: Yes. As long as we can leave the box in the lobby with security or concierge, we can deliver to an apartment or condo.
Q: What if we are away for a week or more on holidays?
As long as you notify us by email by Sunday before the next delivery with the dates you will be away you can place a hold on your share. We offer you a few options;
- You can postpone your share and receive double the following week or week prior
- You can get a friend or family to pick up your share while you are away
- Or we will give you the equivalent value of produce in meat for the missed weeks. Note: Meat must be picked up from the farm store.
- ** We do not issue in-store credits for missing weeks of the CSA program**
Q: How are your animals raised? Do you use antibiotics or growth hormones?
A: Our animals have always been raised the traditional way, on pasture without confinement. We believe in having happy and healthy animals, which means they live a natural life grazing for their food and breathing fresh air. Animal quality of life is a top priority for us. Our pasture-raised animals are known to be lean and great tasting.
Our animals are all ethically raised without the use of any antibiotics or added hormones.
Q: What types of cuts can we expect in the meat shares?
A: Based on your selection between beef, lamb, pork and chicken we pack you a mixture of all different cuts. Each share is packed individually based on your selection. We try to gear the summer shares for the BBQ and the fall share more for indoor cooking on the stove/oven.
Beef: roasts, steaks, burgers, sausage, kebob pieces, stew pieces, ground
Pork: cottage rolls, smoked ham, steaks, chops, sausage, ground, bacon, peameal bacon
Lamb: Leg of lamb, rack, chops, ground, burgers, sausage, stew pieces, kebob pieces
Chicken: Whole, half, thighs, drums, wings, breast
Q: If I get a group of people together do we get a discount?
A: If you get a group of five people to have delivery at the same delivery location, we have a discounted delivery rate.
Q: Is there tax on top of the price of the shares?
A: No. All the prices are as listed on the application. There is no tax on fresh food. Another reason to eat healthy!!
Q: Is there a payment plan or do we need to pay for everything up front?
A: Yes. We do offer a payment plan. You can pay in 3 installments – the first 1/3 for June 1st, the second 1/3 for July 1st and the final payment for August 1st. There is an additional $20 banking fee for this type of payment plan. Payment plans must be paid in post dated cheques, we are unable to accept payment online for this option. If you are interest please contact us at info@willowtreefarm.ca
Q: Can I change my basket items if I receive delivery? Pick up at the farm?
A: We apologize in advance but we do not allow for exchange of items for shares which are delivered. It becomes to difficult to manage and anticipate all these requests.
If you pick up your shares at the farm we do allow you to exchange items for equal value for a maximum of 2 items per week.
Q: Can I get a refund if I decide I don’t like the CSA program
A: CSA shares are non-refundable. We purchase seed and plant the crop to grow for you based on CSA registration. In certain life situation a refund will be issued, less an administration fee. Please contact csa@willowtreefarm.ca and these cases will be dealt with on a one on one basis.