Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative

Not our first time with a CSA, but first time with LFFC. Initially had issues with “missing” (maybe stolen?) items at our first pickup location. Literally, our whole veggie share was gone the first week for us. Wish we would’ve taken it as a sign before wasting our money. Switched to another site location after things were missing about 4 or 5 times during the winter weeks. No issues with pickup at a private residence, which is probably the only positive for us. Produce is, as another reviewer stated, pretty dirty and you spend a lot of time cleaning it, and keep in mind that you will get parts not commonly sold with the produce (e.g., stalks, leaves, etc.). Fine if you’re creative about reducing food waste and have lots of ideas, but frustrating if you just want to prep vegetables for dinner without having to compost 90% of it. Other things to consider are the lack of seasonal variety you’d typically expect for the season you’re receiving (e.g., 4 weeks into summer and still no summer squash, green beans, corn, etc.), but getting plenty of stuff we got with our winter shares (e.g., beets, turnips, parsnips, etc.). As far as the meat, it’s not fresh, so to speak. It is always frozen and most often doesn’t have sell or use by dates. If it does have a pack by date, you’ll see you’re getting stuff from the prior year (e.g., We got chicken wings recently that were packed July 2024). Again, some might not mind stuff you paid a lot for having been frozen for almost 10+ months, but a lot of times, we felt pretty concerned about eating it and giving it to our young kids, particularly because most sites only have a cooler with ice packs to keep it cold while being stored outside—think questionable food storage safety. Finally, when you consider how much you have to pay upfront (e.g., $1000s, depending on what all you want), without having any ability to know what you’re getting or ability to swap/have options, it’s really more budget friendly to just shop your local markets. Truly, if you want to support Lancaster farmers, stop by Brecknock Orchard and their market, Green Dragon, or any of the numerous local markets in Lancaster to get fresh, beautiful, and affordable seasonal fruits, vegetables, meats, etc.

What is the good of all your qualities when you do not bother to prewash the kale--like everyone else? I picked your container assuming it was triple washed, like all the othersTo my dismay, it was not prewashed, not even once--leaving it completely at the mercy of listeria and all other contaminants; Customer is on his own, with you, uncertain re how long and how thoroughly it should have been washed; so, folks, this uncertainly takes away from the "savoring" of your produce. I wash greens that claim to be "triple washed", but at least it is reassuring that it has been through a preliminary process,like Taylor Farms and most of the greens at Whole Foods and Moms. With the contamination rate from soil raised greens, its impossible to be sure, but knowing its been "triple washed" is reassuring to anyone.

Picked up our 1st Fall CSA 2022 today! Couldn't be happier! In the box (Large): *Arugula *Beauregard Sweet Potatoes *Broccoli *Cheddar Cauliflower *Green Acorn Squash *Hakurei Turnips *Lacinato Kale Hearts *Leeks *Orange Carrots *Radicchio *Red Butterhead Lettuce

Picked up my Summer Farm share and there was so much good quality, fresh, and really tasty vegetables: they really pack the box to the brim with huge fresh vegetables! I'm super happy with it especially the value because they give you a lot. I received 2 red lettuce heads that were HUGE and maybe the biggest lettuce heads I've seen in my life, 2 radish bunches, 1 bunch of carrots, 1 bunch of Jerusalem artichokes, 1 bunch arugula, 1 bunch Escarole, and 1 bunch Spinach. Super highly recommend this farm share option.

I signed up for a veggie share from them one year. Not one tomato in the summer. Not one ear of corn. I got lemongrass one season, though! That was exciting. It was the inedible tops from the lemongrass. The stuff that gets cut off. And I contacted Lancaster, and they said "That's what they sent us." I asked which purveyor, and lo, on that purveyor's website, they had the nice beautiful roots of the lemongrass. The stuff that every recipe calls for. They just sent us the trash and expect us to pay for it. I've never bought a CSA share where I actually feel like they spit in each box and laugh at me in contempt. Thanks for all the kohlrabi, and other produce you have trouble selling. The AMOUNT of stuff is appropriate for the price, so I charitably gave them a 2nd star. But if you want the actual produce you get excited for seasonally? Don't buy their CSA. Do you want variety? Don't buy their CSA. If you go to a farmer's market or see what they stock in Whole Foods, you'd feel insulted with what they give you. I know I did. It's a shame, because they really do pick wonderful produce of great quality. They just sell it for more money to Whole Foods customers (and restaurant/corporate customers...).

This is an awesome CSA option if you live anywhere from NYC to Northern VA. Their produce is awesome and they have numerous options beyond veggies. Bread, cheese, fruit, fresh herbs and more. They have so many pick-up locations its super easy to grab your produce each week. I had 3 options within 2 miles from my home in NW DC. Their customer service is also A+. Can't recommend them enough!

Love this produce we receive and the CSA has been incredible introducing my family to new fruits and vegetables we may not pick out on our own.

Just had a box of veggies delivered from Fresh Direct to our place in Long Island and had to leave a review! Amazing assortment and super fresh! Wow! Thanks! Beautiful, colorful veggies: dandelion, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, kale, yellow squash... Highly recommend!!

Been getting their veggie box from fresh direct for years. High quality, affordable, easy access to local organic veg. Love Lancaster! Highly recommend.

This is a scam. 100% Scam. They tricked us by convincing us they were having samples and then charged us for the "samples" They also over charge for their CSA. NOT WORTH IT!! THIS IS A SCAM!!! DO NOT BUY!! GO SOMEWHERE ELSE

I'm very disappointed in the customer service.. I offered to be a pickup point for the csa deliveries. I've called & left voicemails. I've also sent 3 emails and never heard back from anyone..Would the courtesy of a reply be too much to ask ?

I feel Lancaster Farms CSA deserves a much better review, and this is not doing them justice. I live in NYC and it's amazing they deliver here! It enables me to have fresh, organic veggies that taste better than I can get at any grocery store AND I don't have to do any volunteering which I have no time for. I'm pretty impressed by the range of veggies they provide, and as we eat all veggies, everything is delicious. I love their CSA program, I love all the produce. Highly recommended!

Have been a customer for 2 years. My pickup is 4 houses down on a day that works for us - can NOT beat that! Fantastic small veggie share, organic biweekly eggs and fruit share!

Subscribing to this summer's vegetable and egg share was the best decision my husband and I have made in a while. Every week, I get a surprise box of fresh, organic veggies that taste better than anything you could ever buy at the grocery store. They usually last longer because they are so fresh and the best part is, since you don't choose what you get each week, I've been forced out of my vegetable comfort zone! If I get bok choy or kale, we're going to eat it and I'm going to find new recipes! It's been a great kick in the butt to get out of my cooking rut. Don't even get me started on how crazy delicious fresh eggs are. If you have the opportunity, do this now!

I've been a subscriber from Lancaster Farm Fresh for three years now (not in a row - '09, then '11 and '12). I've been a full share or half share subscriber and one year each have had a fruit or egg share. Pros: - makes me eat produce - expanded my horizons to new veggies - Kohlrabi, for instance is now a favorite. - supports local (Lancaster County) farmers - eggs are very fresh and really free range - you can tell the difference Cons: - this year we got a LOT of eggplant and cooking greens, but not nearly as many tomatoes, butternut or acorn squash, corn, etc when they were in full season at the farmers market - I never got ONE winter squash in my 25 weeks! - cooking greens are often given in such small quanities as to make cooking them laughable .. who is really goign to spend 45 minutes cooking SIX leaves of collards? It'd be better to get a whole bunch one a season than a little bit frequently.

We have been getting medium vegetable shares from this Csa for over 6 years and added a fruit share when the Covid lockdown started. We love everything about this org. Food is extremely fresh; interesting variety; and the customer service is excellent. Once I wrote to mention a small problem (we didn't receive an item), and they included an additional item the following week, no questions asked. They also answered questions about unusual items. They send emails each week telling you what you can expect to receive that week. Plus they include recipes and tips on things like storing veggies. Highly recommend!

We use Lancaster Farm Fresh for our farm-to-table preschool menu, and the produce is fresh, locally sourced, and sustainably minded. Our preschoolers are really enjoying their fresh fruit and veggies from Pennsylvania! I think the CSA shares are worth every penny.

Not worth the money if you're in Lancaster County and have the option to go to the roadside stands that are all over the place. One year we signed up for the small share and didn't feel like the value was worth it. We tried again, signing up for the medium share. That was worse. The additional vegetables were usually potatoes and an herb (super low value). The fruit share is really skimpy. You may get 5 peaches and a tiny watermelon for your $10/week. If you live around Lancaster you're way better off going to the markets or growing your own.

I've been participating in CSAs for the past decade. I've been with Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative for the past two years and it is hands down the best CSA I've found in Northern Virginia. The food is always fresh and stays fresh for a long time if you use perforated veggie saver bags.

A great value for local organic produce. I love getting things that I never heard of before and looking up new recipes. Customer service is great too! Once I was missing an item in my box and the following week I had a wonderful replacement. The only downside is sometimes you get too much of an item. You can tell when people are sick of it when the swap box is full of the same item. This summer it was peppers.

Concept seems great but seeing one of their trucks tailgating and driving recklessly through Brooklyn yesterday (April 1, 2014), flipping off drivers and weaving in and out of traffic doesn't do a lot to warm one's heart to the cause. The same thoughtfulness and care that goes into the food should also go into its delivery. Brooklyn's streets are dangerous enough. More fast-moving, dangerously driven trucks are of no use to anyone. Location seen: traveling North on Vanderbilt, crossing Greene. 10:21 AM. April 1, 2014

The veggies are terrific and cheap, the shares really big. Nonetheless the products come with plastic, not so great when you want to eat healthy and try to make sustainable choices.