Double F Ranch Meat CSA
Terms and Conditions
How it works
The Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model focuses on selling a product prior to production thereby ensuring a guaranteed market before going to all the time and effort to produce it (“sell, then raise” instead of “raise, then sell”). Purchasing a share in Double F Ranch Meat CSA means that the consumer buys a share of a herd of live animals which are then harvested and divided among the shareholders according to share size. Double F Ranch LLC acts as a herd manager by caring for the stock and coordinates the processing, storage, transportation, and delivery of the final meat product to the owner (shareholder).
Share costs
The cost for a full share (20lb/mo) is $1,620 per six-month membership which averages out to $270/mo. A full share is designed for a family of four or couples that frequently prepare meals at home. Half shares (10lb/mo) are available for smaller households and cost $810 which averages out to $135/mo.
Share breakdown
A 10lb/mo share roughly equates to a six-month harvest distribution of 1/16th of a beef, 1/8th of a pork, and three to six chickens. By weight, this breaks down to approximately 14-18 lbs ground beef, 10-17 lbs beef, 10-15 lbs pork, and 12-16 lbs chicken. However, all distributions are subject to variation based on the principles of shared risk, and shared reward (see below).
Payment options
Members are responsible for prompt payment of their share. As participation in the Meat CSA represents a financial commitment, we provide a variety of payment schedules ranging from pay in full to monthly payments. Available payment methods include: cash, check, debit or credit (Visa, MC and AMX). A roughly ~3% (2.9% + $0.30) fee is included for all card payments to cover transaction processing charges. Meat will not be released without payment. We reserve the right to assess a fee of up to $25 or require future cash-only payments in the event of a bounced check.
Shared risk, shared reward
One of the most important tenets of a CSA system is that of shared risk and shared reward; a principle exemplified in the analogy of a belt – when times are lean, everyone tightens their belt but when times are good, everyone can let it out a notch. Since CSA memberships are based on the purchase of a share in a herd of live animals, there are a variety of outside factors that can influence the yield of meat come harvest time. These can include weather, season, natural disaster, predation, illness, injury and death.
Member responsibilities
Participation in the Double F Ranch Meat CSA requires a six-month commitment through the entire membership season from January through June or July to December. CSA shares are packed each month in reusable cotton totes. It is the member’s responsibility to bring the empty tote from the previous delivery to trade for a full bag each month. Members are responsible for arranging pickup of their share each month during the designated delivery time. Reminder emails are sent out the Monday before delivery. Please notify Katia in advance if you will be unable to make the pickup.
Feedback
Since members own the livestock, their feedback about how their meat is raised, processed, and distributed is greatly encouraged. Member feedback helps guide management decisions here at the ranch and steers the future of the CSA.