What is a CSA?
Community Supported Agriculture is a direct relationship model that connects farms and consumers so that they may share the bounty of local food throughout the seasons. At Lucky Nickel Ranch Inc. we work with a network of family farms to offer you the best variety of products through the season.Typically, consumers pay in advance, providing working capital upfront, when it’s needed, in exchange for a share of the farm harvest.
Keeping in mind that weather conditions and pest pressure are sometimes beyond our control and you are agreeing to share in that loss as well as the bounty.
Where does the produce come from?
The produce in our shares comes from our Ranch in Eloy, Arizona. The farms we work with all have different specialties and may not all be Certified Organic as we are, but we have insured that non organic materials were not used in their production.
Where is Lucky Nickel Ranch located?
Centrally located between Phoenix and Tucson in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. Specifically off of 11 Mile Corner Road South of Pinal County Fair Grounds and North of the Eloy Municipal Airport. Just look up in the sky for Sky Divers and Lucky Nickel Ranch could be right below.
Our mailing address is:
7361 S. Linda Lou Rd
Eloy, Arizona
85131
How much does it cost?
The Half Share costs $15 and Full Share30.00 per week. While you’ll get incredibly fresh food at a fair, competitive price, we believe the real value is in knowing where your food comes from and enjoying healthy, home-cooked meals.
What grows when?
The Arizona warm spring and mild winters enable an early seasonal harvest of a cornucopia of fresh food. Here’s a small taste of what to expect when.
Summer: melons, sweet corn
Fall: hard squash, cucumbers
Winter: greens, broccoli, cabbage, lettuces, kale, collards, chard, and more
Spring: carrots, spinach, lettuce, green onion, leeks, radish, beets and more
How do I pickup?
CSA Shares are delivered to the pick-up location that you choose. We provide our produce in boxes or in bags depending on your preference.
Can I choose what comes in the box?
The short answer is no. By participating in our CSA shares you will receive a weekly assortment of at least 5 types of seasonal foods picked at their peak ripeness.
What if I do not like something in my share?
If you are allergic to or abhor a particular variety of food, please let us know. While we cannot guarantee special orders, we will do our best to keep your preferences in mind. You may also consider trading with another subscriber, or sharing it with a neighbor, family member, or co-worker.
What if I cannot make it on my delivery day?
You can put a box on hold by going to your account and clicking on the calendar day you wish to hold. All holds and changes must be placed 2 full days prior to your next scheduled delivery. You can also arrange for a friend or family member to pick up your box.
How do I Sign up?
All members must create an account on our website, then:
-If paying by credit card, first create an account online, then enter your credit card information. You can set up automatic payments, or emailed reminders that will let you know when a payment is due. To make payments, just login and pay online.
-If paying by check, first create an account online, then send in your check. Your order will be processed once the check arrives. Make checks payable to Lucky Nickel Ranch Inc.
Once paid you will have a balance and each week your box will be deducted from that balance on delivery day. You can log-in to your account to check your balance at any time. A membership is not confirmed until you have created an online account and we have received payment.
Go to http://LuckyNickelRanch.com
You can place your order and pay online with a credit card or send in a check.
Do I receive a discount for signing up early?
Yes! If you sign up for a full-season membership before August 31, 2013, you will be paying $23/box. After the 1st of next year, the cost of the box is $30.00 for a full-season full share membership. Discounts are not available for the 4-Week Trial/Weekly Payment option.
You can also receive a discount if you choose to be a pick up point Champion. Recruit 10 or more paying members and you will receive your discount. Contact Michael for more details.
Do I receive a discount for signing up friends, family and neighbors?
Yes!!! For each paid friend, family member or neighbor you introduce to our CSA, you will receive a $1.50 discount per box, per week. This means that if you refer a friend to our CSA and they pay for a full-season membership before the planting date, you will save up to $330.00 on the total cost of the CSA. Referral discounts are only available for full-season memberships.
That means you can receive your share free.
Do I need to make a commitment for 22 weeks?
We depend on our members to purchase our produce weekly. We plan, plant, and harvest for a fairly specific number of boxes each week. As a small farm we cannot accommodate large swings in the weekly numbers of boxes that we deliver. Plus, experiencing what the farm has to offer for the entire 22 weeks is part of the fun.
If you are unsure that the CSA is right for you, or if the full 22 week commitment is too expensive to pay in at one time, you can sign up for our 4-Week Trial/Weekly Payment option. You will pay for 4 weeks of CSA deliveries when you sign-up, then every week afterward will be automatically charged $30.00 per box or you may request your membership be canceled without any additional charge.
Can I cancel my membership?
As a small farm, we rely upon our CSA members financial commitment for the entire 22 weeks. If you are unsure that a full-season commitment is right for you, we suggest you take advantage of our 4-Week Trial/Weekly Payment option (see above). If you are signed up for a full 22-week membership and are greatly dissatisfied with our service you may request a cancellation to your membership and we will refund you for the remaining weeks.
In the event of a cancellation, we will bill you for 2 weeks while we find a replacement. If no replacement is found then the membership cannot be refunded due to the inputs being applied to the fields.
What happens if I still have money in my balance at the end of the year?
You will then have credit to use for next year. If you would prefer not to have credit, you may request a refund. Keeping in mind that this is a seasonal program and may take some time.
What if I am going on vacation or otherwise cannot pick up my box?
We would prefer if you found a friend or family member to pick-up the box for you. This is often a great way to introduce new people to our program.
You may also log-in to your account and choose not to have a box delivered for those days. You will not be charged for those boxes. If you forget to place your box on hold or to pick it up. Your box will be donated to a local charity or family in need and will not be refunded. This is perishable food and cannot be stored.
I forgot to pick up my box during my scheduled pickup time! Can I still somehow get it?
It is the responsibility of the CSA member to pick up their box during the designated time period. If a member is unable to do so, it is their responsibility to entitle a friend to do so (no need to contact us, but please give your friend instructions on pick-up procedures.) If a box is not picked up on the designated day, during the designated time frame, it will be donated at the discretion of the site host. We suggest exchanging contact information with your site host: in the event that you miss a pick-up, the site host may be willing to arrange another time for you to pick up your box. This is, however, completely at the discretion of your site host and Lucky Nickel Ranch Inc. is not responsible for missing boxes after the designated pick-up time. Consider the pick-up times firm. In respect for the site host, we ask that members do not show up early or late.