You've got questions, we've got answers. Of course, always feel free to call us (800.861.8582) or email us anytime with questions, too. Thanks for your interest! Also, if you know what you're looking for, you can use these links to skip ahead:
The Basics
What is fresh for market?
We are a Farm Buying Club, kinda like a mega-CSA, located in Cleveland, OH. We provide you with a weekly grocery grab-bag that you pick up at the back of one of our refrigerated trucks in your community. Our food is the just-been-picked-this-morning kind, and includes a huge variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy, breads, canned goods, granolas and more - all from 100+ local, small family farms and producers within 75 miles of Cleveland.
Do I have to be a subscirber to shop at the truck or online?
Yes--you do need to be a current subscriber in order to place orders online or shop at the truck. Our structure-- guaranteeing our farmers a market and buying wholesale direct from the producer-- gives us great prices for our customers and fair pay for our farmers. We are committed to our loyal subscriber base, and committed to having enough food for all of them each week. In return, they commit to us by signing up for the season. However, if you're not a member yet, but love local food and a great deal, we think you'd like our program. You can sign up any time.
I'm Not Ready to take the Plunge. Can I try it out for a few weeks Before I commit to the whole season?
The way our program works, and the way we can get such great prices for such great food, is the commitment between our subscribers and our farmers for the whole season. That being said, we know its a big thing to take on the program for the whole summer if you're totally new to this type of arrangement. We do allow for cancellations and if you do decide it's not for you we need one week's notice to cancel your subscription.
Timing
When is the season and how long does it last?
- Summer Farm Share is 22 weeks long, and runs from June through the end of October.
- Winter Farm Share begins in early November and runs through the first week of May. There are only 15 Share Weeks in Winter (around Thanksgiving, we start delivering every other week.)
I missed the sign-up date. Can I still join?
Sure thing! You can join at any point in the season, and we'll pro-rate your membership for the remaining weeks of the season. Shoot us an email here, or sign in and add a membership to your cart.
If you sign up before Monday of the delivery week, your subscription will start that week. If you sign up after Monday, the system defaults your start date to the next week.
Pricing
How much does it cost?
The Summer Share
- The Small shares start at $34 per bag or $748 for the season.
- The Large shares start at $50 per bag or $1,100 for the season.
- The Mini Share is $34 per bag or $748 for the season.
- There is a check/cash discount -- all prices above are the discounted price. Credit card prices are +3%
- More info about pricing HERE
Do you have a payment plan?
Yes, we offer a weekly payment option in addition to the full upfront payment. On the weekly payment plan, you still join for the full season and you will automatically be charged the weekly rate on the Sunday prior to pick-up. If you join after the season has started, you will only pay for the number of weeks that you receive a share.
How much does it cost?
What type of payments do you accept?
We accept cash, check, and Credit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, + a 3% processing fee applied). We cannot accept post-dated checks & are not responsible if they are cashed early.
When do I have to make my first payment?
Your first payment is due by the first pickup. Check your confirmation email for your start date. If you selected the weekly payment plan, your weekly payment will process on the Sunday prior to pick-up. If you signed up during the Early Bird promotion time frame, the full upfront payment or the first weekly payment is due in March.
Bag Options
What are the bag options?
Summer Share: 3 sizes to choose from [Small, Large, Mini] and 3 food preferences [Omnivore, Vegetarian, Vegan].
Winter Share: 1 size (more similar to the large size in the summer, on an every-other-week pick up schedule. 3 food preferences [Omnivore, Vegetarian, Carnivore].
The Food
Is it organic?
A majority of our farmers are small organic growers who practice traditional farming methods, which eliminate the need for conventional insecticides and fertilizers that are bad for our health and the planet. However, there aren’t enough Certified Organic Farms to supply us with everything we need, and the growing conditions in Ohio for certain crops (like tree fruits - apples, peaches, plums) require minimal treatment to produce fruit.
Do I choose what I want?
Every week’s bag is pre-determined based on what’s fresh, local and in season, so all you have to do it show up and get it. We try to select the contents with a cooking theme in mind and complimentary items. Every week is different. Some items also appear multiples times throughout the season, while still providing a variety of items each week and throughout the season. Check out our Bag Contents archive HERE.
WHAT IF I DON’T LIKE A COUPLE ITEMS IN THE BAG. CAN I SWAP OUT AND GET MORE OF SOMETHING ELSE?
If you have an allergy or a food restriction (ie. gluten/dairy) we’re happy to make a substitution. Otherwise, we’re not able to make swaps if you just don’t like something.
If you do not eat all types meats (pork, chicken, turkey, duck and beef), we are unfortunately unable to make substitutions in the Omnivore and Carnivore Shares. If you do not eat all types of meat, please select the Vegetarian Share. You can purchase extra meats a la carte in the online store or at the back of the truck when you pick-up your share.
We have a robust library of recipes that can be found here.
DO YOU PROVIDE RECIPES?
We also have a huge collection of recipes we’ve written and gathered over the years. We link to the recipe archive in every newsletter. We do also provide more in-depth cooking techniques / processes at various times throughout the season as well. You can find more in-depth food guides HERE as well.
The Pickup
WHERE DO I PICK UP MY SHARE?
DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO PICK UP AT MY PRIMARY LOCATION?
You can pick up your Omnivore, Vegan, or Vegetarian bag at any location, regardless of where you selected to be your primary pick-up location on file. Your Special Orders and Carnivore bags, however, are only available for pick up at your selected primary stop.
WHAT IF I MISS MY PICK UP?
If you miss your primary pick-up spot and/or know ahead of time you have a conflict, you can visit any of our 20+ pick-up locations (before or after your scheduled day) to get your share. We understand life happens - meeting ran late, stuck in traffic, the kids had a soccer game, or you just forgot - and have a little bit of flexibility within the same delivery week for you to pick-up at another spot.
Just check out the schedule for the other locations (Summer / Winter), find one that best fits your schedule and head to that spot! You don't have to let us know and when you arrive just tell the greeter your name like you would at your regular location. If you placed a special order, we are unfortunately unable to transfer orders between locations.
If you are completely unable to pick-up your share and out of town, we do offer the option to submit a vacation hold in your account. Vacation holds must be entered by the Saturday prior to your missed week to receive a credit for the week. If you completely miss pick-up without notice, we are unable to issue refunds if you completely miss picking up your share. Any remaining shares at the end of the week are donated.
IT’S POURING/SNOWING/FREEZING! ARE YOU GOING TO CANCEL THE PICK UP?
Nope! Unless there is a serious threat to the safety of our greeters and our customers, we will be there, no matter the weather. We often use Social Media or email to keep our customers apprised of any changes to pick ups– if we need to move the truck or if we’re running late– so follow us on Facebook or Instagram to get those updates and check your email.
Special Orders
CAN I BUY EXTRAS?
You can place a Special Order online ahead of time, or make purchases at the back of the truck à la carte. Special Orders must be placed and paid for by Tuesday at midnight to be available on the route that week.
CAN I PICK UP MY SPECIAL ORDER AT ANY STOP?
Special Orders are only available at the location selected during the checkout phase online. When arrive to pick up your share/tote, please let the Greeter know you have a special order (it is packed separately from your share and we need to specifically call up for it on the truck). If you happen to miss your pickup, we are unfortunately unable to transfer your order to another location. Please contact the office. Missed special orders are subject to a 30% restocking fee and credit card fees charged for an order are non-refundable. Click here to read more about Special Orders.
Vacations
WHEN I GO ON VACATION, WHAT HAPPENS TO MY SHARE?
Each customer can have up to 4 weeks vacation from the share– during these weeks, you do not pick up a bag. Maybe you’re at the beach, maybe you have a huge project due at work, you got a new puppy, whatever– just let us know ahead of time:
Notify us online [select your vacation week(s) from the "Vacations" tab in your online account], in person when you pick up or via email by end of day Saturday PRIOR to your vacation week.
When you return, there will be a store credit available in your account for use in the online shop or for items displayed at pick-up. Don't delay spending your credits -- if left untouched for 4 weeks they start lose value. Credits cannot be used to pay off an existing balance and expire at the end of each season. More info here.
Allergies & Restrictions
WHAT ABOUT ALLERGIES/FOOD RESTRICTIONS?
We are only able to accommodate substitutions for those with gluten and dairy allergies during the Summer Share (please let the Greeter know at pick-up that you will need a substitute). The totes have been standardized based on size + food preference that each customer has signed up for and our trucks do not carry extra product. Try sharing with a friend or neighbor, or swapping with a fellow Fresh Forker. Part of what makes Fresh Fork so great is the element of surprise and trying new products! We hope you use this as an opportunity to try a new food or find a new creative recipe to use kale for the "umpteenth" time (before you know it, you'll be missing the fresh, leafy greens in the middle of December). We have built an extensive archive of recipes that can be found HERE.
During the Winter Share, we are unable to accommodate gluten or dairy allergies. During this season, we will cycle in value added items like cheeses, pastas, flours and even prepared items (lasagna, pizza dough, baked items, etc.) and there is unfortunately just not enough produce available during this time of year to have enough volume for a substitute. We appreciate your cooperation with this and hope you can find a friend, family member or neighbor to share these goods with.
Substitutions & Refunds
IF I SIGNED UP FOR A OMNIVORE, BUT I WANT TO GET A VEGETARIAN BAG INSTEAD, WHAT DO I DO?
If you want to change your bag preference for the rest of the season, no problem. Just send us an email at info@freshforkmarket.com to put the change into your account. Because the boxes are pre-packed and based on specific numbers for each route, we are unable to accommodate switching between share types on a week-by-week basis. We base our ordering and packing off of the food preference listed in your account.
I THOUGHT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET BLACKBERRIES/PINTO BEANS/GARLIC SCAPES THIS WEEK. WHY AREN’T They IN MY BAG?
If we forgot to put something in your bag, we’re truly sorry. Please contact us as soon as possible so we can fix the problem. However, just like the weather (and usually because of it), our plans need to shift. We might have been planning on a particular item in your share (berries can be particularly temperamental), but due to reasons beyond our control (extreme or unpredictable weather, mechanical problems at the farm or warehouse, miscommunication with our Amish farmers who don’t use phones/email, etc.) we might have to change the bag contents on the fly. At pickup, we will post a list of the bag contents at the Greeter table and packing table. Any substitutions will be noted on this list. There are also times when we are just unable to find a comparable substitution in time for deliveries (when we get product in daily, we sometimes don't know that we have been shorted product until the it has arrived. At times there aren't enough hours in the day to contact a farmer, have them harvest thousands of an item and get them back to our warehouse in a timely manner for the same day). In the event that this happens, we will provide a substitute at a later date in the season.
The large share is too much food, or maybe the small share isn't enough
We are happy to accommodate a one-time "upgrade" or "downgrade" to the next package size. If you're getting the large share and find you're not moving through the food quick enough, we would rather you let us know it's too much and switch you to the small share instead of having you feel like you're wasting food. On the other hand, if the small share isn't enough food we'd be happy to upgrade your share to the larger share for more food throughout the week. Our system will adjust your refund/extra payment accordingly based on the date that your account switches.
WE’RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FINISH THE SEASON. CAN I GET A REFUND?
For whatever reason–moving, illness, preference, whatever it may be– if our subscription doesn’t work for you, we still will. Just let us know, and we’ll refund the remainder of your subscription– all we need is one week’s notice. Please call 800-861-8582 or write to us (info@freshforkmarket.com) and let us know that you need to end your subscription early. Any paid credit card processing fees are not refundable.